Thieves Steal Mail From Homes In Centennial

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (CBS4) – There have been multiple reports of gift boxes and other mail being stolen from a Centennial neighborhood.

At least 50 pieces of mail were stolen from mailboxes.

Taking mail from someone else's mailbox is a federal offense punishable by up to five years in jail and a $250,000 fine.

That's exactly what happened to a Cheryl Swain. Her husband found a package addressed to her left in the street 50 yards away from their mailbox.

"I imagine they grabbed it, ran, kind of opened it and saw what was in it," said Swain.

A small gift from her mother was missing. Swain isn't the only victim.

"The mail was in a disorganized swath," said neighborhood resident Leigh.

Tuesday night Leigh found a pile of mail, some of it Christmas cards, dumped along a neighbor's fence.

"I'd say about two inches high, so I'd say definitely more than 50," said Leigh.

Leigh brought the stolen mail, which was taken from several nearby mailboxes, home and sorted it for delivery.

"My sole objective was to return the mail," said Leigh.

The sheriff's office says another woman in the same neighborhood also found a few pieces of discarded mail.

"The police said they're trying to steal the Christmas cards to see if there are gift cards or money," said Swain.

A sheriff's deputy returned all of the mail, but some items were missing.

The homeowners will have to determine the value of what's missing for charges to be filed if the thief is caught.