Rampant mail thefts in Corona lead to delivery shutdown

CORONA, Calif. (KABC) -- Neither rain nor snow can stop the U.S. mail, but thieves, that's another story.

A community in Corona has found its postal delivery shut down after multiple reports of identity theft and letters being stolen from locked mailboxes.

The residents of Sycamore Creek had complained to the U.S. Postal Service for months about the thefts.

"Tons of mail theft - we were getting hit daily," said resident Larissa Adrian. "We've had multiple thefts of identity, people having their accounts wiped, credit cards taken."

Then suddenly last week the Post Office shut down delivery to some 1,300 residents.

A spokesperson said the thieves had apparently obtained counterfeit master keys.

Delivery will resume after the Postal Service can change 82 locks, but the agency would not say how long that would take.

In the meantime, residents are left driving to the post office and waiting in line to pick up their mail.

"We're frustrated we have to go through this because there are thieves in our neighborhood but at the same time I'm glad our mail isn't getting stolen and there is a solution temporarily in place," said Corona resident Jeoaux Griffith.