BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) \u2014 In a quiet High Oaks neighborhood, a community mailbox meant for convenience has become a repeated target for thieves, leaving residents frustrated and concerned about the security of their mail.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis mailbox is a community gang box, and it\u2019s been robbed \u2014 hit several times,\u201d said Don Stamp, a High Oaks resident. \u201cThe neighbors just got tired of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stamp said the mailbox has been broken into about half a dozen times so far, with thieves stealing sensitive personal and financial information.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve lost credit cards and financial statements and bank statements, stuff like that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Concerned about the repeated thefts, Stamp decided to take matters into his own hands by installing a camera with spotlights near the mailbox in hopes of deterring future break-ins.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have a camera with spotlights. I\u2019ll put it up in the tree and hopefully deter this,\u201d Stamp said.<\/p>\n
But even cameras and floodlights failed to stop what Stamp captured early one morning. Video shows a suspect arriving by car, exiting from the back seat, putting on a mask and opening the mailbox despite the light turning on.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe didn\u2019t care,\u201d Stamp said. \u201cHe got out, opened up the box, took the articles and then left.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mail thefts like this are on the rise and are expected to increase as tax season approaches, according to U.S. Postal Inspector Matthew Northfleet.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we\u2019ve seen for the past few years is that what mail thieves are targeting are financial instruments,\u201d Northfleet said. \u201cPeople steal mail because they want to make money. There\u2019s really no other reason to steal somebody\u2019s mail.\u201d<\/p>\n
While cameras can help document thefts, Northfleet said the most effective prevention is simple.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe ask people to get their mail out of their mailbox as early as they possibly can,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Northfleet added that saving and submitting surveillance videos to postal inspectors can be helpful. In addition to mail theft, inspectors are also seeing an increase in postal carriers being robbed \u2014 not just for mail, but for their keys.<\/p>\n
Stamp said he and his neighbors remain vigilant and hope that continued documentation will eventually stop the thefts.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have any intention of confronting them or anything like that,\u201d he said. \u201cI just want it to stop.\u201d<\/p>\n
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