Mailboxes stolen from Alhambra post office

ALHAMBRA, Calif. (KABC) -- Two mailboxes in front of an Alhambra post office were unhinged and stolen early Thursday morning, U.S. Postal Service officials said.

The boxes, located at Benito Avenue and Valley Boulevard, were immediately replaced. But the federal crime caused some concern among postal customers.

"I always like to put my mail here. Now, I don't trust to put my mail here. Now, I have to go inside of the post office," said Julie Ruiz, an Alhambra resident.

"The worst part of it is the fact that nobody saw anything. I think it would be a little bit obvious if somebody was just taking the time to take them out and put them in somebody's truck," Los Angeles resident Mireya Alonso said.

Alonso said she uses the Alhambra post office to drop off mail for clients. While she did not drop mail into the box Wednesday night, she feels sorry for those who did.

The U.S. Postal Service issued a statement: "These crimes are rare, but they do occur and people can protect themselves by checking the posted time of the pickup on the box and only depositing their mail on that same day before the pickup time because these crimes occur under the cover of darkness."

That is something Alhambra resident Bob Abe says he tries do all the time.

"Mine gets picked up at 4:45, so if it's stolen tonight, it should be okay," Abe said.