A USPS customer is fuming after losing a staggering $6,000 due to missing mail, a problem that has wreaked havoc on an entire neighborhood for years.

Despite receiving delivery confirmations, residents have been left with empty mailboxes as packages and checks disappear without a trace.

In Crescent Park, West Houston, the issue has escalated, leaving residents desperate for a solution.

Eliseo, a local resident, told FOX local affiliate KRIV that his wife’s personal information was stolen, leading to credit card fraud that cost them up to $6,000.

“They opened credit cards in different stores,” he said.

Residents in his neighborhood have been dealing with issues with their mail since 2023.

They say at least seven cluster mailboxes have been targeted in the area, with hundreds of break-ins over the past few years.

Nobin Easowjohn also had his bank card stolen and thieves racked up $2,000 to $3,000 in charges.

“I haven’t gotten that money back,” he told KRIV.

“Every other day, it’s a big problem,” Lilia Medrano, president of the neighborhood’s HOA, said.

Medrano has contacted multiple agencies, including the USPS, the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the sheriff’s office, and city officials, but has seen no resolution.

Cluster mailboxes in the area are accessed with a master key.

In response to the thefts, USPIS told KRIV they are actively investigating break-ins and working closely with local law enforcement.

While the area is being considered for electronic lock installation, USPS did not provide further details on the timeline or location of the locks for security reasons.

“The Beechnut area was identified as being an area where electronic locks are being installed,” a spokesperson told the local TV station

“For security reasons, the location of the electronic locks will not be disclosed.

“The Postal Inspection Service routinely receives complaints from members of the public.

“We do not confirm, deny, or otherwise comment on the existence of ongoing investigations. As this is an active investigation, the Postal Inspection Service cannot provide additional information.”

Residents, however, are frustrated with the delay. Medrano and others are now calling for a more effective solution.

“We want individual mailboxes,” she said.

Eliseo echoed the sentiment, demanding more immediate action.

“This situation has been since last year, and nothing has been done, so I want to say to authorities, take care of this matter.”

MISSING PACKAGES

A new scam has emerged where con artists are targeting homeowners by tracking deliveries of expensive electronics such as phones, tablets, and computers, and then swooping in to steal them.

Local authorities report that the scammers closely monitor tracking information, ensuring they know exactly when the package will arrive at the victim’s address.

Once the package is delivered, the scammers move quickly, often snatching it from the doorstep before the homeowner even realizes it’s been dropped off.

There have also been incidents where criminals have impersonated the homeowner to claim the package directly from USPS.

These clever tactics are making it increasingly difficult for residents to protect their deliveries, leaving them vulnerable to this growing trend of theft.

“Most of these deliveries have confirmation numbers on them and they’ll know exactly when they’ll be delivered, so they’ll beat the victim to the mailbox,” Scott County, Indiana Sheriff Jerry Goodin told WHAS.

Other times, thieves requested a shipping address change and had expensive items delivered to a drop location to be picked up later.

USPS THEFT STATS

In May 2023, the USPIS launched Project Safe Delivery to combat the rise in mail theft and violence against mail workers.

The program is a nationwide effort in partnership with state, local, and municipal police departments.

Statistics show a concerning trend: nearly 70% of Americans have encountered missing or stolen mail.

In 2023, package theft by porch pirates alone accounted for 115 million stolen items, costing consumers an estimated $9 billion, according to Forbes.

In some instances, mail was stolen even before reaching porches—taken from collection boxes or stolen directly from postal carriers.

The rise in thefts is reflected in official reports, with the US Government Accountability Office documenting nearly 600 incidents of robbery against postal workers in fiscal year 2023—a significant increase from just 90 in 2019.

The surge in crimes has raised alarm across communities and prompted stronger federal action to address the growing problem.

USPIS didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment by The U.S. Sun.