Thieves break into mailboxes across Lincoln amid the holidays

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Lincoln Police say several mailboxes around the city have been ripped open by vandals over the last few weeks.

On the night of Dec. 13, four cluster mailboxes more were broken into near 27th and Superior streets, according to police.

The damage totaled about $6,000. Police also said a necklace worth $500 was stolen.

On Wednesday, the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man who had over 400 pieces of stolen mail in his car.

Authorities said $3,000 worth of checks were in the stolen mail.

Then on Thursday night, police said at least three more cluster mailboxes were hit in southeast Lincoln neighborhoods.

Tracy Reichmuth, a resident in the area, said she noticed the damage when she came home from dropping her daughter off at school that morning.

“I just noticed the whole back was torn open,” she said. “It looked like someone had pried it open with a crowbar.”

LPD said the average damage to the mailboxes was about $1,400 per mailbox, and several people had mail stolen.

Officials said the increase in thefts is likely related to the holiday season.

Reichmuth said it’s important to check your mail regularly, especially this time of year.

“I felt relieved I had gotten my mail the day before,” she said. “Cause we had had a package and we had also gotten some gift cards from some family. I spoke with one of my neighbors and she brought up the fact that she was waiting on some medication to come in the mail, so there’s just all those things.”

Her and other neighbors said it’s alarming to this kind of vandalism happen so close to home.

They say they might even look into getting security cameras to monitor mailboxes and their front step.

SEE ALSO: Lincoln experts say security systems help prevent break-ins, track down suspects

“The way things are now you have to do a lot of shopping online,” she said. “I just feel really bad for people. I luckily got my stuff out the night before.”

If you have any information about the damaged mailboxes or stolen mail, you can contact Lincoln Police at 402-441-6000.