Mail Theft

All information is provided for reference. It is up to the reader to verify the information. Use at your own risk.

• • Step 1 - Report the incident to USPS by phone(1-877-876-2455) or online https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/

  • Step 2 - File a police report to SAPD 210-207-SAPD or online (quickest way) https://www.sanantonio.gov/sapd

  • Step 3 - If you are a victim of credit card abuse that report can also be done online or call SAPD, 210-207-SAPD

  • Step 4 - Make sure if your identity has been compromised to check with your credit bureau agencies; Equifax, Transunion, and Experian.

  • Step 5 – Call your Congressional representative and ask for more federal attention to this issue. https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

    • Mail boxes, USPS delivery, and mail theft fall under the purview of the Federal government. We are encouraging residents to call their representatives local field office to bring attention to this issue and ask for assistance. Our office is doing everything we can. This is where we need residents to help us help them. Click here to look up who your representative is.

Cluster Box Lighting

• New street lights can be installed if the new location is more than 600 feet from an existing light. To make a request call 311.

• If a new street light is not warranted CPS can install All Night Security Lights(ANSL). This is a security light that can be installed at a discounted price and billed monthly to an HOA. Click here to see more info on pricing, specifications, and the application

• If neither of these options works the next lighting option is a DIY approach. Other D9 Neighborhoods have taken it upon themselves to light their cluster boxes. This basically involves getting permission from the resident whose property the box is on, digging the hole, setting a 12’ 4”x4” post in concrete, and installing a solar powered motion detecting solar light on top. These were done for a cost below $200 per unit. This is of course factoring in free labor. For more info on this contact Colt Osburn at 210.207.7803.

• The final option for lighting involves moving clusterboxes closer to an existing light or creating a centralized mail delivery site. USPS requires that a concrete slab, built to their specs, be provided at the new location. This again would involve neighborhood communication to come to an agreement.

Law Enforcement Assistance

• • In-person observations should be coordinated through the Citizens On Patrol(C.O.P) program. This program is successful where it is employed and is literally designed for situations like mail theft. It is based around a training course held at the Police substations. It focuses on explaining how law enforcement works and communicates with each other and the public, and how residents can deploy in their neighborhoods to observe and report issues in the absence of police presence. A lot of people get immediately turned off by thinking about “patrolling their neighborhood”, but it is not as rigid/boring as it sounds. Each neighborhood can develop their own tactics and tailor it to what works for everyone. I can tell you that the neighborhoods with robust C.O.P. programs have less crime, as per SAPD. Click here to see the training schedule.

  • The second part of the evidence gathering aspect is providing physical evidence like photos or video footage. SAFFE Officers have recommended neighborhoods install “game cams” on their own. This would just again involve communicating with neighbors and picking a location. A step up from this would be security cameras aimed at tracking incoming/outgoing traffic into the neighborhood. Other D9 neighborhoods have employed surveillance systems that tracks license plates and is connected to state/federal watch lists. This is not something our office is recommending per se, but it is an option that is out there. Their website is www.flocksafety.com.

Locking Mailboxes

• • UPS and Fedex are not allowed to touch the Federal Mailbox. One resident successfully installed a locking Parcel Mailbox next to the Federal Mailbox allowing UPS and Fedex to use it for the packages that will fit. The large mailbox pictured, does meet the height requirements. Mail delivery personal now recommend, off the record, NOT raising the red flag so that it does not draw attention to thieves. Thus, you would not need to add a red flag to these locking mailboxes.

  • Some persons prefer to put parcel mailboxes by their front door.