Police Capt. John Small says a handful of post office patrons have reported missing mail.
Small said one person said he thought prescription medications were stolen from his mailbox. The medications included one for water retention. He also reported a mailed check for $150 missing, as well as a handful of IRS form 1099s.
Another patron said he had been been gone for two weeks and had expected as many as 30 checks from clients that could total between $5,000-$6,000. Small said postal officials are investigating, along with the police. But, he didn’t hold out much hope for finding a suspect, unless the thief attempted to cash a stolen check.
Small says post office workers discovered the problem last Monday morning. He said someone used a tool to bend and force open the doors to the post office boxes. The center glass had been broken in two of the doors.
There are no security cameras in the lobby area of the post office, where the post office boxes are located. The lobby area is open around the clock and anyone could go in any time. If the thieves are found, they could face felony theft and forgery or identity theft depending on what they do with the mail.
Small said he can’t remember this happening in his 15 years on the Anacortes police force.