Is it illegal to tamper with someone's mailbox?

[Tom_Foolery]

Mrs. Foolery's parents live in a rural area, and the teens from across the road keep placing burning cigarettes and the like in their mailbox. Her parents are in their sixties and in poor health; so needless to say, they don't need this crap. Besides which, they receive thousands of dollars in medication each month plus their social security and retirement checks. They reported this activity to their local post office and were told that it is no longer a federal offense to tamper with a person's mailbox, so there is nothing the post office would do. Is this true?

[mrboba1]

1. To open the mailbox is against the law

or to put anything in it is as well (or on the flag, even.)

Trust me, I know.
:eyes:

[Tom_Foolery]

4. Thanks!!

They'll appreciate the info!

[commander bunnypants]

2. It is a federal offense

DDQM

[Tom_Foolery]

11. Thanks!!

[eyesroll]

3. Well, even if it isn't a federal offense, it's still vandalism

Call the police.

And I never did hear that mailbox taampering isn't a federal offense any more -- call another post office and verify.

[Tom_Foolery]

13. Thanks!!

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

5. Federal Offense - NO JOKE

trust me

[Tom_Foolery]

14. Thanks!!

[MISSDem]

6. I had a situation where someone took mail out of my mailbox

and left it opened and tossed in the grass behind the box. I went to the post office and talked to the inspection there and he told me to report it to the sheriff's office. Nothing was ever done but I don't know whether they actually watch to see if anyone is doing this or not. We think they aren't doing anything but I know that they do. We had a rash of robberies from cars parked in driveways in my area and we thought they were not doing anything but the sheriff had a deputy in an unmarked vehicle (a pickup truck) driving around watching and he caught the teenagers who were doing these crimes. We got retribution, but I guess I digress. I would go to the sheriff if I were you.

[Tom_Foolery]

15. Thanks!!

[DS1]

7. redirect mail and booby trap it

/ruthless

[Tom_Foolery]

16. Hmmmmm...

Mrs. Foolery likes this one.....

[chuck555]

8. Its a Federal crime.

The law was not repealed.

[Tom_Foolery]

17. Thanks!!

[Tom_Foolery]

18. Thanks!!

[madrchsod]

9. just checked

it is still a federal law..remember the nut-ball last year who was blowing mailboxes in the us?

[Tom_Foolery]

19. Thanks!!

[fob]

10. If it is a metal mailbox that was wired to a cord that could be plugged

into a standard 110 outlet, it would surprise whoever opened it, is all I'm saying.

[Tom_Foolery]

20. OOOOOHHHHHH!!

Mrs. Foolery really liked that one!!

[mark11727]

28. That's FoeOfBush for ya...

...always one step ahead of me.

[fob]

37. Thanks for the compliment, but it takes a lot of time and energy

to put work off for the important things in life, like posting on DU.

[Reverend_Smitty]

12. It's definitely a crime...

I remember when I was doing door to door campaigning, we were repeatedly told never ever touch the mailboxes, other wise we could all get into serious trouble.

[Tom_Foolery]

21. Thanks!!

[Maddy McCall]

22. Call the post office back. Ask to speak to the postmaster.

Tell the postmaster what is happening. Tell the postmaster that you know it is a federal crime, and you want to know the post office's procedure in handling this.

If you don't get any satisfaction, call the postmaster in the nearest town to your in-law's town. Ask them for the name of the district supervisor. Call that supervisor and tell him/her what is happening and that you are getting no assistance from the postmaster.

It would be great if you have an eye witness or could video the kids messing with the mailbox. At any rate, you should also call the sheriff and tell him what is going on. He can pay the teens and their parents a little visit.

Signed,

Retired Rural Mail Carrier's Daughter.

[Tom_Foolery]

24. Thank you SO much!

Mom and Dad will really appreciate the help!

[Bunny]

23. Two words:

Direct Deposit. Can they get their retirement and SS checks direct deposit? Save them from worrying about that, anyway. Also, as far as their meds: can they change their delivery to UPS? The driver would have to bring it to their door, instead of leaving it in their mailbox. Just a thought.

[Tom_Foolery]

25. Thanks!!

[jukes]

26. they're getting stonewalled

@ the post office. you need to find the nearest "postal inspector's" office, pobably in the federal building @ the county seat. that's the investigative branch & they'll take the report. they're actually very good & will scare hell out of those kids.

[Lindacooks]

27. Tell them about this mailbox:

http://www.steelmailbox.com/html/steel_city_mailboxes.htm#SelfLocking

It's one we have. You open it with a key, then close it. The mail carrier can open it ONCE to put in mail, then it automatically locked and only a key will open it.

And definitely report those vandalizing punks to the sheriff.

[Tom_Foolery]

30. Thank You!

That may be something that we will check into for them. It's sometimes better to present them with the final product, rather than letting them think about it too much first!

[StrongbadTehAwesome]

38. maybe I'm just a pessimist, but

I don't think it would take a vandalizing punk long to figure out that to open the box, they'd just have to wait until after his in-laws have brought their mail in for the day. Even if they don't put anything inside, the next day, the mail carrier won't be able to deliver their mail.

If it were me, I'd switch to a P.O. box.

[miss_kitty]

29. mlle_chatte: "it's all about me"

it a federal crime to mess with mail. full stop.

my identity was stolen (name dob ssn, probably by a healthcare worker), and the creeps who ended up with it called my bank to open a checking acct and the bank said to the faux moi "why mlle_chatte, you have an acct." faux moi said "great! change my address and send me new checks!" now the FBI (hosp record-HIPA violation) the office of the inspector general of the social security admin (SSN) AND the USPS postal inspectors are looking into it-and they pack HEAT!

those criminals never touched my mailbox...they don't even know where i live-but they jacked my checking acct and had financial instruments sent to them in my name-mail fraud....

[Tom_Foolery]

32. I'm very sorry!

Earlier this year, our eBay sellers ID was stolen, by a hacker in London, England. He had access to EVERYTHING!! Luckily, we found out the same day he took it, and within three days we had our ID back, and had blocked access to everything else. We felt completely violated by that, I cannot imagine what you went through!! I don't think my parents could survive the stress of something like that. Dad had a major Heart Attack last year, and has continued to have Heart problems since. (Come to think of it, when is a Heart Attack NOT major?)

Anyway, hopefully we can do something about these people before it goes that far. The local and state police are very familiar with this family, they each have their own parole officer! I suggested it might save tax dollars to appoint a Family Parole Officer instead......

Thanks for all of your kind tips!!
Mrs. Foolery

[miss_kitty]

33. i had a company called 'tom foolery' once

it is the cockney rhyming slang for jewelry.

thank you for your sympathy. i hope the folks get the mailbox stuff straightened out.

[salvorhardin]

31. According to the USPS site

It is a federal crime.
http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/smashbox.htm

[Tom_Foolery]

35. Thanks!!

[St. Jarvitude]

34. Sounds like a lazy post office

It is definitely still a federal offense. I think the lazy fuckin Post OFfice didn't want to deal with some "stupid punks."

I'd take it up directly with the local FBI branch office, or just your local city police/county sheriff's office.

[Tom_Foolery]

36. Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner!!

It's small repuke area, and they don't want to make the effort to catch these jerks.