Bold Thief Targets Mailboxes Of Senior Community

DENVER (CBS4) - Words of warning are spreading among senior citizens after a thief stole mail from community boxes.

The theft occurred at Windsor Gardens in Denver. Many of the seniors had their rent checks or bill payments stolen. The hassle is getting things back in order and keeping it from happening again.

Jim Hudson uses the community mailbox in his building almost every day without hesitation. On Monday he was greeted with a warning that says the boxes had been comprimised

"It seems like he got a pry bar … just bent it out enough to get his hand in there and take the mail," Hudson said.

Hudson said the biggest concern for residents is what the crooks may have gotten away with.

"Bills, pay the bills and stuff like that, a lot of money in the checks."

He said even more worrisome is that his building was just one of several that were hit.

"There's a couple right next door here and one in the back too," he said.

"It's kind of bold because in the lobby area there is a lot of traffic," resident Connie Kelly said.

Both Kelly and Hudson think their mail was safe, but they agree the hassle for many of their neighbors is figuring out what's next.

Denver police said mail theft can and does happen fairly often all over the city. The U.S. Postal Service said not to send cash and avoid leaving mail in a box overnight.