Residents get few answers in Moreno Valley mail thefts

MORENO VALLEY, Calif. (KABC) -- Angry Moreno Valley residents held a meeting at city hall Friday morning to address the growing issue of mail theft.

Several victims of mail theft were left frustrated at the lack of answers they received. Many said they were told by local law enforcement officials that the thefts fall under federal jurisdiction.

But police said Friday that mail theft falls under a petty crime, which Moreno Valley police would investigate.

Another frustration at the meeting on Friday was that a federal postal inspector showed up, but refused to go inside and take part because the news media was there.

The Moreno Valley Ranch Homeowners Association said in the past 20 months they've had to fix nearly 70 cluster mailboxes that have been broken into.

Over the past two years, the association said it spent more than $88,000 fixing the mailboxes.

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To help combat the issue, the U.S. Postal Service urges residents to not leave mail sitting overnight, when the majority of mail thefts occur.

If you do suspect mail theft, the post office said you should call your local police department.

Police acknowledged that most cases remain unsolved because mail theft is considered a low priority crime.