PARKLAND, Fla. – A group of Parkland seniors is upset after learning much of their mail is missing. They, too, are now victims of a growing trend of mail theft in South Florida.
Residents at The Falls at Parkland 55-and-over community, located off Parkside Drive and Hillsboro Boulevard, were shocked to find their mailboxes had been broken into and their mail had been stolen.
“Everybody’s mail, except for Saturday’s mail, was pretty much gone,” said resident Cheryl Karkow.
Local 10 News’ Roy Ramos spoke to several residents who said they first realized their mail was taken over the weekend when letters, bills and other items they were expecting never arrived.
“I had a prescription that was stolen,” said Karkow. “I had a bank statement that was stolen.”
The mailboxes did not show any significant physical damage, because residents said they were told by a mail carrier that the thief used a stolen master key to enter each and every one of them.
Many of the victimized residents said they quickly reported the theft to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, which said the case is now being investigated.
Those that fell victim to the crooks also reported the federal crime to the U.S. Postal Service to confirm whether a master key was taken, and what could be done to secure their mail in the future.
“The post office said that that master key services 24,000 mailboxes or homes and it is not practical for them to change the locks, and all we want is for them to change the locks,” said Krakow.
Management for The Falls at Parkland told residents they plan to install surveillance cameras near the mailboxes.