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Rimbey RCMP and Canada Post team up to stop to mail theft

Rimbey RCMP and Canada Post are teaming up to catch the criminals responsible for an epidemic of mailbox break ins throughout the area
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Marnie Bland

Rimbey RCMP and Canada Post are teaming up to catch the criminals responsible for an epidemic of mailbox break ins throughout the area and the latest break in to the town’s post office has meant even tighter security measures will be in place.

Const. Carman Dutz said the break in to the post office was discovered when a resident stopped in to pick up mail early Wednesday morning (Jan. 20). The doors to 14 mailboxes were pried open and mail may have been stolen.

Police were immediately alerted.

Dutz is hopeful whoever is responsible for the crime will soon be apprehended.

“It’s early in the investigation, but people are going by the post office all the time and it is very lit up. It is a location that many people frequent all hours of the day or night and we are hopeful that someone has information that would assist in identifying the person or persons responsible for this crime.”

While he noted seeing someone in the post office picking up mail isn’t suspicious, seeing someone with a crow bar or screw driver demands immediately attention.

“Call the RCMP at once,” he said.

Tips from the public help the RCMP to do their job. If you have any information regarding these or any other crimes, please call the local Rimbey RCMP Detachment at (403) 843-2224 or Crime Stoppers:

Stealing mail is a criminal offence and could net up to 10 years jail time, he added.

Stealing mail from rural mailboxes has been somewhat of an epidemic throughout the province, he said, noting Canada Post is doing its part by moving mail boxes inside the municipalities.

He noted the rural mailboxes in Meridian Beach were hit in December, but the boxes have now been moved inside the subdivision where they are surrounded by houses.

Canada Post spokesperson John Caines commented briefly about the break in.

“Unfortunately a recent trend of crime has developed in Alberta, not just with Canada Post but other businesses as well. There was vandalism at the Rimbey post office and the affected customers are being contacted. The issue is under investigation by the police and we are unable to comment further,” he said in an email.

While Canada Post and RCMP continue to work hard to eliminate mail theft, Dutz advises people to use methods other than mail to send cheques and to definitely not send cash in the mail.