USPIS investigating multiple instances of mail theft in San Jose

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) — 7 On Your Side has been investigating issues concerning mail theft in San Jose, where thieves have been using master keys to rip residents off credit cards, checks and other important mail.

After seeing our reports, a new community has reached out with their own sets of issues.

“It doesn’t seem like we have a lot of help,” A resident, who wished to go by Z.L., said. “It doesn’t feel like we know what we can do to make things secure.”

After four separate incidents of theft, the residents of Almaden Walk Loop, who wished to remain anonymous at the risk of retaliation, say it’s more than just mail being stolen from them.

Since September, residents say two men arrive overnight and steal mail from their community mailbox using a master key.

And after the most recent incident last week, the mailbox is broken and residents have to retrieve mail from the post office.

It temporarily stops the theft, but not the inconvenience.

“We are doing everything we can from our side, you know, like installing a camera. We have reached out to the USPS Inspection Service multiple times,” Another resident known as, M.J. said.” We have tried to reach out to, San Jose PD as well. But, nothing has so far yielded any results.”

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Mail theft in communities like these has become quite a bit of a problem here in the South Bay, as we’ve reported on, and it’s because one of our past stories that these neighbors reached out to highlight their issues.”

“It’s incredibly frustrating that, even with all the coverage, there is still isn’t enough high level of awareness against this,” M.J. said.

Data shows seven master keys were stolen or lost in San Jose back in 2023, though none were reported missing last year.

The United States Postal Inspection Service says they are investigating multiple reports of similar mail theft in the city – they executed a search warrant just last week.

This neighborhood would love to see similar progress made.

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“I hope that the thieves are caught,” M.J. said.

“We are going to try our own things and hopefully that’s we’re going to find some way to deter these kind of incidents,” Z.L. said. “But, we can use some help.”

USPIS encourages residents to report mail theft to inspectors 24 hours a day to 877-876-2455.

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