Thieves have been using stolen master keys from the U.S. Postal Service to steal mail from apartment complexes, a crime that is becoming alarmingly common.
A recent incident at the Boulevard Condominium complex in Santa Clara, near El Camino Real and Scott Boulevard, where all 130 mailboxes were burglarized.
Security footage showed a person entering the complex around 3:30 a.m. Monday and raiding two mailbox hubs.
“Every single resident of this community was a victim of mail theft including myself,’ said Alex Salzmann, a resident at the complex and member of its board of directors.
“We have talked to residents, and they have lost driver’s licenses, credit cards, debit cards – somebody said their Global Entry card was found somewhere in San Jose.”
Federal authorities are searching for two suspects in the robbery of a U.S. postal worker in Oakland.
Residents voiced their frustration and feel that not enough is being done to deter mail theft.
“I never imagined that these things would have happened over here,” said Sircar Amal, who has resided at the complex for a decade and had his mail stolen.
The Santa Clara Police Department said it is investigating and advised impacted residents to file a report. The Postal Inspection Service is also involved in the investigation.
In July, residents at a South San Jose condominium complex made similar complaints after their mail was stolen.
