Introduction to Mail Theft in SW Miami-Dade
A mail thief is on the run in one Miami-Dade neighborhood, and residents there have captured the crime on camera.
“We really want to just get out of this cycle, it’s a nuisance,” Christina Espinel said.
The History of Mail Theft
She said it’s been happening for roughly six months.
“We’ve had a series of mailbox thefts," Espinel said. "We wake up in the morning and all of the neighbors’ mailboxes are open, mail is missing.”
Capturing the Thief on Camera
And the person they believe is at the center of it all was finally captured on camera in this Westchester neighborhood. Ring camera shows a man in a car stick his hand into the mailbox, grab mail and then drive off.
Then Wednesday around midnight, what appears to be that same man is now on foot, taking a peek inside the mailbox and then walking off to the next one.
“Which now I feel like is, wow, you are not even nervous, you don’t even feel like you need to take off," Espinel said.
Community Response and Installation of Security Measures
The owner of the ring camera says he installed it because of the string of mail theft that’s been taking place for months.
Neighbors say while they wait for something to be done, they continue to remain close-knit and keep each other up to date on happenings on their street.
“Unfortunately, I feel that we live in a time when not all neighbors are really connected much anymore, but this neighborhood is. So, when you come through this street, just know we are all going to be chatting about it,” she said with a laugh.
Investigation and Follow-Up
NBC6 reached out to the postal service, which has its own inspection service that looks into these crimes. We did reach out to them to see if they were looking into the matter. We are still waiting to hear back.
Conclusion
The residents of SW Miami-Dade are taking matters into their own hands by installing security cameras and looking out for each other. However, they are still waiting for the authorities to take action and bring the mail thief to justice. It is essential for the community to continue working together and for the postal service to investigate and prevent future incidents of mail theft.
FAQs
Q: How long has the mail theft been occurring in the neighborhood?
A: The mail theft has been happening for roughly six months.
Q: What measures have the residents taken to prevent mail theft?
A: The residents have installed security cameras, such as Ring cameras, to capture footage of the thief.
Q: Has the postal service been notified of the mail theft?
A: Yes, NBC6 has reached out to the postal service, which has its own inspection service that looks into these crimes.
Q: What can be done to prevent mail theft in the future?
A: Residents can take preventive measures such as installing security cameras, keeping a close eye on their mailboxes, and reporting any suspicious activity to the authorities.
