Neighbors On Alert After Woman Caught On Camera Breaking Into Mailbox
LAKEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4)- A Lakewood neighborhood has banded together to deter mail thieves. Their actions come after home security cameras captured a woman digging through one homeowner's mailbox.
The homeowner, who asked CBS4 not to use his name, said the surveillance video shows an unknown woman prowling around the home. She eventually makes her way up the driveway and onto the side of the house but it seems her primary goal was getting her hands on the homeowner's mail.
"She kind of darted to my mailbox and flipped the front open," said the homeowner.
It happened in the middle of the day with traffic driving by. Unfortunately with the holidays, package deliveries are more common and mail theft can be on the rise.
"It's a pretty common problem through the neighborhood," the homeowner told CBS4.
After filing reports with police and the U.S. Postal Service, the homeowner posted the image online on a site dedicated to connecting neighbors.
"It's a simple way to just let people know that something's happened in the neighborhood," he said.
Since the picture has been shared on social media, a flyer has been made and posted around the neighborhood. Those living in the area of 10th and Garrison are watching for the woman captured on surveillance video. They'll also be more aware of anyone else trying to get away with mail that doesn't belong to them.
"It's an invasion to have people come on to your property for their own purposes," said the homeowner.
Police say there are several things homeowners can do to prevent mail theft, such as removing mail from the mailbox as early as possible, having packages delivered to a friend or relative who will be home, or ask the delivery company to hold packages or make sure they require a signature. In some cases, the delivery company can leave the packages out of sight, if requested.
Karen Morfitt Joined the CBS4 team as a reporter in 2013. She covers a variety of stories in and around metro Denver. Follow her on Twitter @karenmorfitt or email her tips.