Thieves have hit rural mailboxes in the last few days before Christmas, hoping to cash in on parcels and gifts.
Residents on Facebook reported boxes in a group mailbox on Rothsay Street were broken into last Wednesday night or Thursday morning, after someone pried open one of the big doors on the mail box. That included rifling the parcel box from which one resident said her daughter-in-law’s birthday present was stolen.
“Ridge Meadows RCMP confirm we received a complaint of mailbox theft overnight and are performing a parallel investigation with Canada Post,” said Insp. Aaron Paradis.
Read more: Mail boxes targeted for ID theft
There are no other reports of mailbox theft from other areas of the community within the last 48 hours, police added.
Resident Andrea Wingrove said she saw notes from Canada Post on community mailboxes throughout the area telling people to pick up their mail from the post office at Lougheed Highway and 208th Street.
She said that between 120 to 150 locks must be changed by Canada Post and there’s no date for when service resumes.
She said petty crime has jumped in the Whonnock area in the past year. “Everyone’s on edge because of the thefts in the area have just gone exponential.
“Basically, everything nailed down has been taken,” she said.
Langley RCMP are also investigating mail thefts.
pmelnychuk@mapleridgenews.comLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
