Politics & Government

Stolen Mail in Country Estates Causes Post Office to Caution Residents

Mail was taken from boxes on Vista Ramona Road. The Postmaster advises residents to take outgoing mail to the post office during holiday season.

Mail was stolen last week from mailboxes near the corner of Vista Ramona and Sargeant roads in the Country Estates, according to Ramona Postmaster Andree Sauls. He said the Sheriff's Department and Postal Inspectors were called out to investigate.

Sauls said it happened between 1 and 3 a.m. one morning mid-week.

Mail theft isn't uncommon as holiday seasons approach, he said.

Find out what's happening in Ramonawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"It doesn't happen every year, but we get it sometimes."

He said thieves broke into several individual mail boxes in two or three multi-box units in the vicinity. They vandalized them and took mail, dropping some on the road, he said.

Find out what's happening in Ramonawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"We haven't necessarily had checks stolen in Ramona, but it can happen anywhere. Thieves elsewhere have been known to steal checks, wash them and write on them," Sauls said. "They can take gift cards too."

Sauls said he had no knowledge about whether any arrests had been made. No further information was readily available from the Sheriff's Department.

As the holidays approach, he advises Ramona residents to take outgoing mail to the drop box at the instead of leaving it in their mail boxes. It might be especially important not to leave mail in a box with a flag up, one of the postal clerks told Patch.

Sauls said anyone who needs to pick up a package at the post office should take personal identification to prove they are the recipient.

"Sometimes people don't like that, but it's to protect them so we know the right person is collecting the parcel," he said.

If customers plan to bring identification, it will make the line move faster for everyone, he said.


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