topic Problems with mail delivery/stolen mail? in Among Friends

Problems with mail delivery/stolen mail?

barb40 — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 20:04:24 GMT

1) Today...I had a package delivered from QVC by my USPS mail carrier...it was placed in my mailbox, and my actual mail was inserted in my newspaper holder directly underneath my mailbox...which has no door. I find this unacceptable. I feel the package should have been delivered to my front porch, and my mail actually placed in my mailbox. I have never had this happen before.

2) About 2 weeks ago, i discovered i had 2 pieces of outgoing mail stolen out of my mailbox: 2 smaill bills i had paid, that were clearly altered and cashed at the local grocery store. Have notified my bank and the grocery store. Do i need to report this to the USPS and police also?

Thanks for any comments or suggestions you may have!

Re: Problems with mail delivery/stolen mail?

I am still oxox — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 20:07:27 GMT

Speak to the Postmaster

Re: Problems with mail delivery/stolen mail?

Alison Wonderland — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 20:11:44 GMT

@barb40 wrote:
1) Today...I had a package delivered from QVC by my USPS mail carrier...it was placed in my mailbox, and my actual mail was inserted in my newspaper holder directly underneath my mailbox...which has no door. I find this unacceptable. I feel the package should have been delivered to my front porch, and my mail actually placed in my mailbox. I have never had this happen before.

2) About 2 weeks ago, i discovered i had 2 pieces of outgoing mail stolen out of my mailbox: 2 smaill bills i had paid, that were clearly altered and cashed at the local grocery store. Have notified my bank and the grocery store. Do i need to report this to the USPS and police also?

Thanks for any comments or suggestions you may have!

Yes.

Re: Problems with mail delivery/stolen mail?

SeaMaiden — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 20:12:51 GMT

@barb40 wrote:
1) Today...I had a package delivered from QVC by my USPS mail carrier...it was placed in my mailbox, and my actual mail was inserted in my newspaper holder directly underneath my mailbox...which has no door. I find this unacceptable. I feel the package should have been delivered to my front porch, and my mail actually placed in my mailbox. I have never had this happen before.

2) About 2 weeks ago, i discovered i had 2 pieces of outgoing mail stolen out of my mailbox: 2 smaill bills i had paid, that were clearly altered and cashed at the local grocery store. Have notified my bank and the grocery store. Do i need to report this to the USPS and police also?

Thanks for any comments or suggestions you may have!

@barb40Yes. Speak to the postmaster and I would speak to your local police department too.

And for now, mail your out going mail at the post office INSIDE.

Do you have a locked mailbox? That might be an option for you.

But, Believe it or not, even the locked boxes are getting broke into in my neighborhood ☹️

Re: Problems with mail delivery/stolen mail?

Montana — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 20:13:26 GMT

I always write “For Deposit Only” on the back of any checks. I’ve had a few checks come up missing, but they were never cashed.

Re: Problems with mail delivery/stolen mail?

Nightowlz — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 20:15:50 GMT

I would call the police & the post office.

We are not suppose to put anything in the mail box except mail so the mailman should not be putting your mail in your newspaper box. You are right he should have brought the package to the door.

The police can go to the grocery store to see if they can find anyone on camera with your checks.

Re: Problems with mail delivery/stolen mail?

2blonde — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 20:17:26 GMT

@barb40 Not that this would help a lot, but that grocery store should never have cashed those checks without them showing a matching ID. My store makes people show their driver's license before they will cash a check or accept one for payment. At the least, they should check to see the store card shows a name that matches the one on the check.

Re: Problems with mail delivery/stolen mail?

Imaoldhippie — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 20:21:45 GMT

Yes definitely report it to the police, its theft, and a federal offense.

@barb40

Re: Problems with mail delivery/stolen mail?

ALRATIBA — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 20:22:03 GMT

My brother/SIL live in a rural area had a similar problem a couple of years ago.

They decided that the best solution for them was to get a box at the local PO - a short distance down the road. Either they or one of their kids go past the PO every day - so not really an issue or out-of-the-way.

Re: Problems with mail delivery/stolen mail?

Nightowlz — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 20:29:28 GMT

@2blonde wrote:
@barb40 Not that this would help a lot, but that grocery store should never have cashed those checks without them showing a matching ID. My store makes people show their driver's license before they will cash a check or accept one for payment. At the least, they should check to see the store card shows a name that matches the one on the check.

@2blonde

The store should at least questioned an altered check???

I hardly ever see them check drivers license to make sure it matches what's on the check. Most don't know you need to be checking the signature.

It's like the kids working in fast food today. Some think the reason they wear gloves is so their hands don't get dirty???

Re: Problems with mail delivery/stolen mail?

OKPrincess — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 20:32:50 GMT

This past Monday, DH and I paid one year in advance rent on a post office box for packages. It cost $96.

Last week was the final straw for misdelivered packages.

We never mail anything from home and receive small amounts of mail.

Good luck.

Re: Problems with mail delivery/stolen mail?

grandma r — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 20:46:02 GMT

Contact the police and postmaster.

The thief has committed a federal offense by stealing your mail. The lowlife who altered your checks committed theft and fraud.

Do you or any of your neighbors have security cameras?

Re: Problems with mail delivery/stolen mail?

Annabellethecat66 — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 20:51:00 GMT

Oh! The stories/problems I've had with the US Post Office! Ugh!

I no longer send birthday cards with gift cards in them. They've been stolen over and over (I finally now have to pay EXTRA to put them in a larger post office envelope and registered for a $25 gift card! Does that make sense? It's happened everywhere so I don't think it's one specific mail carrier or place. (Are there really that many thieves out there? Obviously, there are!).

Listen to this! Probably 2 years ago now. I had sitting on my front porch a huge box next to the front door. I live in a development of 1 acre lots where the entire neighborhood have dead end streets (no one driving through). The driveway is 200 ft long! The house front is wide open so anyone stealing something wouldn't be missed!

So, this box sat on my front porch for probably 2 months because I had to try to find someone to move it to the yard. It was a QVC fountain but was in an unmarked cardboard box. It had sat out in the wind and rain over and over. The box would have disintegrated if someone had grabbed it (I would have thought). I was wrong.

I finally found someone (a friend) who was coming on (say a Wednesday to move it). I came home on Tuesday afternoon and the huge box was gone! I called the friend. She said she hadn't been there. I went to my neighbors, they hadn't seen anything suspicious. I called UPS and the local post office and even FedEX (thinking someone had accidentally picked it up for a return). I called QVC, nope......

In other words.....someone had managed to carry that box/fountain to their truck (it wouldn't have fit in any kind of car) and steal it! I looked in the trash thinking the cardboard would have fallen apart and they'd have put the cardboard in the trash....nothing in there!

To this day I have no idea what in the @#$% happened to that huge box/fountain, but it disappeared!

I've had things stolen from my mailbox (which is quite large). Unfortunately the mail people have shoved huge boxes in it so I had to call the 800 number to have THEM send someone out to get IT out! This has happened several times!

Here's what I finally did (it sometimes works out, not always). A friend bought me a big/long Tuff Stuff/tupperware box with an attached lid. It sits at the top of my driveway near the garage door. There is a sign on it that says, "Please put the packages in this box". Beside the garage door I nailed another sign that says, "Please put packages in the box to the left". Inside of the door of the mail box I have a sign that says, "Please put the packages in the large box at the top of my driveway".

Phew! You'd think that I'd have it all covered! Not necessarily! Today there were several of the plastic packages shoved into my mailbox with my mail. That's OK, I managed to pull them out! Obviously, some mail people can't read!

I understand the US Mail is struggling. They now have to deliver large boxes whereas the UPS people used to do it. I've seen my mail carrier's little truck so full there was barely room for him! I'm sorry about that but it's not my problem!

I've tried everything I could to ensure that the packages and mail arrive SAFELY to me. I don't know how much more I can do (suggestions appreciated).

I do get quite a few packages from my friends/QVC/my family. That's why I've gone to so much trouble.

However, I cannot do anything other than spend way more money that I'd like to in order to send a birthday card with a gift card to family and friends.

I love to send cards and gift cards to people! It gives me pleasure and they know how much I am thinking of them.

I feel cheesy when I have to call and say, "Did you get the card and gift card I sent?" Then I hold my breath....I never know.

How pathetic is that? We can no longer be sure anything we do these days is or will be safe! Don't get me started with checking baggage (and it's safety).

QVC is wonderful. When I haven't received something, I've called them and they've never questioned but have sent a replacement. Luckily, it hasn't happened a lot (maybe over the years 8 or so times).

I feel your pain! I think these things are happening because no one gets punished for breaking the law.

I just saw on (I think it was FOX cable), not sure where a famous basketball player's wife caught with the RING video two thieves trying to steal or rob her. She's on camera/voice telling the thieves, (paraphrasing), "What are you doing? I see you. You'd better get out of here."

It happens everywhere no matter where you live or who you are.

Re: Problems with mail delivery/stolen mail?

BirkiLady — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 20:56:24 GMT

@barb40 I would speak to the Postmaster about the mail being left with the newspaper under your mailbox (in the newspaper slot). Sounds like a mistake on the carriers part, but it should be addressed. In incliment weather it could have been an issue and/or your mail may have blown away OR been stolen (as seems to have been the case with your bills).

As far as the QVC package being left in your mailbox, my carrier usually leaves my packages in the box if they fit. That's why I have a large USPS mailbox! If it saves the carrier some time (they are working on a very tight schedule), I'm delighted to help make their lives a little easier. Plus, walking to the mailbox is something I'm going to do anyway so who cares if I'm going to return with mail and a package? I'm still getting the exercise which is so good for me at the same time each day.

YES, notify the Police immediately. They need to be aware of anything suspecious in your neighborhood. That's how they are able to set up their patrol routes. Your information may be added to others of similar complaints which may result in solving a series of petty crimes. The petty crimes turn into serious crimes or even felonies over time. The Police are helping you and your community! They will educate the grocer about the proper check cashing procedures ASAP. That never should have happened.

Re: Problems with mail delivery/stolen mail?

viva923 — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 20:54:12 GMT

the latest word I have heard from postal employees is. They are not paid enough to deliver to front door of house.

my mail man who do to talk to almost daily said. He will not ever deliver anything to front door of anyone house. if it is to big, he puts a note in mailbox and the client has to pick it up at postal office. He said he is not paid enough to deliver to front door.

who knows what to believe anymore. is this laziness on postal employees or is this really true not being paid enough.

please let the police know about the checks being stolen out of mail box. they will investigate and see if the place where the checks were cashed at has a recording camera system to see if they find the crooks on the camera system.

Re: Problems with mail delivery/stolen mail?

Venezia — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 21:33:44 GMT

Good luck getting anywhere with any postmaster. I just had another incident with a subbing carrier. The nitwit left a package on my doorstep and left my letters on top of the package instead of in my mailbox. On a wet, windy day.

It's a good thing I came home, when I did. I saw the letters blown all across my front field (I'm rural). I found three and have to assume that's all there were. I called the local post office and was told they would "speak to her about it". Tried to contact the head of the post office, because this is just another in recent issues. No way could I even get through to a person! Clearly, they've taken that option off the menu.

And the last issue that I reported via their email/feedback went nowhere. Nothing except an automated response, then a survey asking me how satisfied I was with their response!

I'd call the police period. It's theft and fraud, a federal crime.

(ETA: I never put anything in our mailbox for the carrier to pick up. Never have. It's literally a red flag to some crook that there's something there to steal.)

Re: Problems with mail delivery/stolen mail?

barb40 — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 21:48:08 GMT

Thanks Everyone, so much, for all your replies! The checks were cashed at Meijers...when we talked to the manager, he said they do not request a driver's license. One check was done electronically, and total was changed. The other check was made to water company, obviously erased and changed to Meijers. (I write in pen!) Both checks together total under $100...it's the principal of the thing. I will never put any outgoing mail in my mailbox again to be picked up. Never had a problem in the 20 years I've lived here. Annoying. And ...packages are usually left on the front porch.

Re: Problems with mail delivery/stolen mail?

proudlyfromNJ — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 22:15:10 GMT

Never had a problem with the mail. If there is a package, he brings it to the door with the mail and hands it to me.

Re: Problems with mail delivery/stolen mail?

software — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 22:31:04 GMT

@2blonde wrote:
@barb40 Not that this would help a lot, but that grocery store should never have cashed those checks without them showing a matching ID. My store makes people show their driver's license before they will cash a check or accept one for payment. At the least, they should check to see the store card shows a name that matches the one on the check.

The thief gets a relative to do it, someone he knows well who works there.

If the employee gets caught, they get fired but they don't always get caught

Re: Problems with mail delivery/stolen mail?

Mz iMac — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 22:44:22 GMT

@Annabellethecat66

"I've tried everything I could to ensure that the packages and mail arrive SAFELY to me. I don't know how much more I can do (suggestions appreciated)."

Purchase a security camera. One that shows videos in color & is of HD quality.

"I think these things are happening because no one gets punished for breaking the law."

The culprits are not punished because no one calls the police.

As was previously reported, stealing mail is a FEDERAL crime.