Mailbox thefts on the rise across Edmonton
Posted April 12, 2023 7:43 pm.
Mail theft and broken community mailboxes are becoming a common sight in Edmonton.
Last week, CityNews told you about a string of robberies in the Griesbach neighbourhood, but sources tell us, it is spanning across Edmonton.
It took less than five minutes of driving around to come across not one, but six mailboxes that appear to be broken into.
A source from Canada Post says break-ins have been an issue for couriers for many years — but repairs take time, with Canada Post contracting to a third party.
The union representing postal workers says they would like to see that task handled in-house.
“Postal workers have a vested interest in our customers. We want to have a thorough and supported postal service that can serve our customers. And we feel that we could do a better job of it than contracting that out to third parties,” said Devon Rundvall, president of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers in Edmonton.
It’s not just in Edmonton. Last week St. Albert, RCMP noted they’ve seen an increase in mail theft — which, around tax time, can open up citizens to identity fraud.
But the union says those trying to steal mail are doing more than breaking into postal boxes. Rundvall says he’s heard of three instances of postal workers being assaulted for keys while working.
“That’s more of a concern than walking up to an empty mailbox is, you know, when there’s a knife being drawn on one of our members.”
CityNews has not been able to confirm this with Edmonton police.
As for the break-ins, Canada Post confirmed there have been incidents of vandalism to community mailboxes saying they take this seriously, but are unable to provide numbers as it’s currently being investigated by police.
For Rundsvall, he knows seeing broken mailboxes is a frustration for residents with older mailboxes easier to break in.
“I think it comes down to just the fact that we have such a large infrastructure across the country that with all the new neighborhoods being built across the country, there’s always, always need for new boxes. And sometimes these older boxes kind of get to the bottom of the list. And unfortunately, it sometimes it takes multiple break-ins before Canada post will respond and put it in a more secure box.”
Canada Post asks that all mail theft and vandalism be reported to them and the local police.
