DULUTH, Ga. — The Duluth Police Department says they have received several complaints regarding opened mail from the Duluth Post Office.
They said the opened mail contained gift cards, checks and cash -- which is removed from inside the mailings -- then placed back inside the envelope and delivered.
Residents believe it is a larger crime ring that is happening behind the scenes.
"Earlier this year, we urged our residents to avoid the outside blue boxes when sending mail due to mail being stolen from them," the department said on Facebook.
"Our residents heeded our advice and instead of using the blue boxes they began using the inside delivery slot to send their mail."
However, with these recent reports, police say the victims stated they used the inside slot for delivery and not the blue boxes.
Several residents gathered on Friday at the post office to voice their frustrations.
Stephanie Freeman said she sent letters to Congressman Rob Woodall as well as the postmaster general regarding the issue, dating back to 2017. She had $250 medicine stolen from a package before it was delivered.
Larry Thomas said his wife's birthday was in September and multiple cards to her were open. He doesn't believe that anyone is stealing the mail from his box, but believes it is a larger crime ring.
Pam Rice said her IRS check was cashed for the wrong amount after she dropped it off in the box outside the Duluth Post Office. She said the check had been "washed" and the name was changed.
Others shared similar stories.
"It is not something isolated to one opportunity seized," Amy Doane said after several graduation cards for her child were stolen. "It seems to be a widespread problem."
Tish Bachart, who has lived in Duluth for 20 years says that in the last two years, she has had to change three bank accounts after checks were stolen.
When it comes to investigating cases of stolen items and cash from the cards, police say they are not able to investigate these cases, due to the Post Office being federal jurisdiction. These cases typically are sent to the USPS Investigation Division to be investigated, they said.
"Like the victims in these cases, we share the same frustration," the department said. "Your Duluth Police Department wants to identify these perpetrators and stop this nonsense just as much as you do."
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