Someone Going Through Mailboxes In Coweta, Broken Arrow

By Tara Vreeland, The News On 6

UNDATED -- A Grinch is operating in Broken Arrow and Coweta.

The postal service says someone has been going through people's mail, looking for money.

At E. 161st St. S. and the Tulsa/Wagoner County line, postal inspectors believe mail thieves are behind a bizarre string of residents finding their neighbors mail in their own mailbox.

"It was about six or seven letters, it was two days ago," said Curtis Carrington, resident.

Postal inspectors say it appears as though someone has gone through the mail looking for money, checks, or gift cards and then dropping the rest of the mail at a home down the road.

"Shows you just how desperate people really are now," Carrington said.

Curtis Carrington is not sure whose mail he received but says the situation has neighbors here on edge.

"So everybody out in this area, don't be surprised if you get stopped every time you stop to see what's going on, we're just checking to see who is out here and what is going on," Carrington said.

Charlie Thigpen, U.S. Postal Inspector, said, "I'd just remind all the customers out there just to be cautious, be careful, especially during this time of the year."

Thigpen is a postal inspector; he says there are a number of ways residents can make sure their mail is safe.

Take your mail directly to the post office, learn the time your carrier comes by and put the mail out just before, and don't leave any packages on your doorstep.

Thigpen says the reports of mail theft here are slowing down and they believe whoever's responsible may have left the area.

But residents say it's still unsettling and they hope the suspects are caught.

"It's not right, never will be right because this is from family, this is Christmas that's what it's all about," Carrington said.

Stealing mail is a federal crime and anyone who believes their mail was stolen can call the postal inspectors hotline at 877-876-2455.