Mailboxes the target of thieves in Brampton

Thieves didn’t wait long to take advantage of the end of the Canada Post labour dispute.

Just a day into mail delivery again, thieves went after a neighbourhood mailbox in Brampton, prying open the doors and stealing the contents.

The latest incident took place in the northern part of the city on Good Hope Road yesterday (Dec. 18), according to reports.

Peel Police have not verified the crimes and Canada Post could not be reached for comment.

A person who spoke to INbrampton.com, who did not want his name used for this story, said the thieves were opportunistic with their timing.

“They knew that cheques and other important documents like passports might be in there, things that built up because of the strike by postal workers,” the person said. “If they were vandals they would have just scattered the mail on the ground, but these guys took everything.”

Earlier this year similar incidents took place in Brampton in newer neighbourhoods where the joint mailboxes are located.

When contacted at that time, Peel Regional Police said they had received several reports from Canada Post regarding mailbox thefts and vandalizations throughout the Peel Region. They said they were investigating all incidents.

An unofficial spokesperson for Canada Post acknowledged the neighbourhood mailboxes are easy targets for thieves because of their somewhat remote locations that can be attacked overnight.

However, the representative admitted there is not much that can be done to stop the crime. They suggested that mail be picked up every day before it gets dark rather than letting it accumulate.

“Unless you catch somebody in the act it’s impossible to control, there are just too many of them to police effectively,” the person said. “Even if you catch them, they don’t they aren’t going to jail, especially with the courts tied up in more serious crime. Unfortunately, there is not much we can do.”