That's actually a fairly genius idea.
How to catch a Post Mail Thief?
- Thread starter Saul
- Start date
That's actually a fairly genius idea.
Fot that dye trick mentioned above, legally the police may not be able to make everybody in the building open their door and freely submit to it, but what you CAN do is put dye all over the place you open the box with, except one spot you only know about. Eventually -- if not that VERY day -- the theif will them open his or her box as well and leave dye on their handle. But be wary and check all the other handles -- the theif might be taking other people's mail, so you might have to use different color dyes. But in the end this would -- if laws are the same in your country -- give probably cause for a search warrent to be issued, and over here in the U.S. postal mail theft if a Federal crime where you can go to Federal prison.
You can also try timed things like a flash bang, or a thing of paint that that pops and sprays the theif. Or maybe a dye pack that banks use that explode all over the theif and don't wash off so easily.
You can also try timed things like a flash bang, or a thing of paint that that pops and sprays the theif. Or maybe a dye pack that banks use that explode all over the theif and don't wash off so easily.
You don't need probable cause in our system to shine a torch on someone's hand when they open their front door. I'd be surprised if any judge would consider it a search.
With the exception that you might get the mailman instead, this is probably the most feasible idea yet. The check idea is another good idea, but getting permission to view the camera footage would be difficult.
-nobody
You can let the mailman know, with a letter in your box, to avoid your box for a couple days and to take the letter with him (so the theif doesn't see it).
It's a personal search. Unless you consent to a boldily search, they need probable cause to do it without consent, so I understand.
But depending on how much you hate the guy, get him for mail theft, and as above -- the check cashing scheme. Maybe he/she will be put away for a long time (and start stealing inmate mail for a change).
It's a personal search. Unless you consent to a boldily search, they need probable cause to do it without consent, so I understand.
But depending on how much you hate the guy, get him for mail theft, and as above -- the check cashing scheme. Maybe he/she will be put away for a long time (and start stealing inmate mail for a change).
Well you wouldn't need the camera footage, your bank can tell you who cashed a cheque (make it an account payee only, with the 'payable to' blank - make it look less like a trap in an accompanying letter!) - in fact I'd suspect you're entitled to the info, as it came out of your account.
Well, well if he got the canceled check / or a photocopy (like my bank does) back with his statement, then problem solved. He'd had a name at least.
Stakeout & Sniper Rifle.
I don't know if they have PO Boxes in Japan but if they do you could get one and have your mail forwarded there. Then the thief couldn't get to it. You could also have your mail forwarded to a friends house for a few months and the thief will eventually lose interest in your empty mail box.
It's inconvenient (and doesn't help you catch the crook) but it's all I could think of.
It's inconvenient (and doesn't help you catch the crook) but it's all I could think of.
You could probably get some better suggestions if you describe where your mailbox is, the layout of the lobby, are there any windows available to watch from across the street, what type of mailbox you have (open slot? lock and key?)
In any case, report this to the police immediately, and keep making reports every day your mail goes missing. It doesn't matter if the police do nothing about it. Next week you could catch the guy red handed, and it's just your word that this has been an ongoing thing, and his word that it was a one time mistake. Establish that this has been going on and on, it will be necessary in court. You will also have to report to the building owner if it is another resident, presumably you want him evicted. You also want your mail back, and this will require a search of his premises.
If you want cheap, establish as much of a pattern as you can, like when does the mailman come, what time do you eventually check and find your mail missing, are there any neighbours you are friendly with who are home during the day and get their mail at a specific time, etc.
Then take a couple days off, and stake out the place discreetly on your own. Have a digital camera in hand to get proof, or at least something to back you up. If you can't find a discreet place to sit all day, at least casually walk by your mail box every half hour or so and determine a time when it goes empty.
If there is somewhere you can hide out of sight, but within earshot, duct tape a small alarm inside the box and hook a string to the door so it rings when the the box opens. Then step out of hiding (stairwell, whatever, read a book) and take your picture.
In any case, report this to the police immediately, and keep making reports every day your mail goes missing. It doesn't matter if the police do nothing about it. Next week you could catch the guy red handed, and it's just your word that this has been an ongoing thing, and his word that it was a one time mistake. Establish that this has been going on and on, it will be necessary in court. You will also have to report to the building owner if it is another resident, presumably you want him evicted. You also want your mail back, and this will require a search of his premises.
If you want cheap, establish as much of a pattern as you can, like when does the mailman come, what time do you eventually check and find your mail missing, are there any neighbours you are friendly with who are home during the day and get their mail at a specific time, etc.
Then take a couple days off, and stake out the place discreetly on your own. Have a digital camera in hand to get proof, or at least something to back you up. If you can't find a discreet place to sit all day, at least casually walk by your mail box every half hour or so and determine a time when it goes empty.
If there is somewhere you can hide out of sight, but within earshot, duct tape a small alarm inside the box and hook a string to the door so it rings when the the box opens. Then step out of hiding (stairwell, whatever, read a book) and take your picture.
You could mail yourselfr a fake letter with poison, with a fake return address, and just let the sucker bit the dust.
I talked to the Police here and they said they can't really do anything about it. They can't search anyone since I don't know who it is.
All they can do is sometimes patrol the area around the time the mail is delievered.
The mail box is located on the 1st floor. There are 7 Mailboxes. The mailbox is pretty crappy. No lock or slot, it's a little door you open and you can put mail inside that. Anyone has access to it. I can put a lock on it but everyone on my floor has to use it also and another problem is that small packages are left on top of the mail box, not inside it so in that case the lock is no good.
There's no window down there, there is a space for parked cars and coin clothes washers. As I mentioned already I have had left oput two fake packages with notes left in them to scare off the thief but it didn't work. I had left a third package there and hid close by but it wasn't taken at that time. I can't see the mailo box from where I hide but I put a coin in the opening of the door so if someone opens it the coin will drop out and I can jump out and photograph the bugger. Unfortunately I didn't as of yet catch them, but it does work as I surprised someone from my own floor opening mail box. I plan to do more stake outs. But I'm getting pretty ticked off that I didn't catch them yet.
The Check idea is a very good one. I might try that, but I think it will make the Thief a little suspicious.
I forgot to say. I did find a torn envolope belonging to me. It's possible that his fingerprints are on that. But again I can't fingerprint everyone living here.
All they can do is sometimes patrol the area around the time the mail is delievered.
The mail box is located on the 1st floor. There are 7 Mailboxes. The mailbox is pretty crappy. No lock or slot, it's a little door you open and you can put mail inside that. Anyone has access to it. I can put a lock on it but everyone on my floor has to use it also and another problem is that small packages are left on top of the mail box, not inside it so in that case the lock is no good.
There's no window down there, there is a space for parked cars and coin clothes washers. As I mentioned already I have had left oput two fake packages with notes left in them to scare off the thief but it didn't work. I had left a third package there and hid close by but it wasn't taken at that time. I can't see the mailo box from where I hide but I put a coin in the opening of the door so if someone opens it the coin will drop out and I can jump out and photograph the bugger. Unfortunately I didn't as of yet catch them, but it does work as I surprised someone from my own floor opening mail box. I plan to do more stake outs. But I'm getting pretty ticked off that I didn't catch them yet.
The Check idea is a very good one. I might try that, but I think it will make the Thief a little suspicious.
I forgot to say. I did find a torn envolope belonging to me. It's possible that his fingerprints are on that. But again I can't fingerprint everyone living here.
I like the idea of putting fake pacakge there and maybe setting up a dye-bomb in it or covering it with infrared/ultraviolet ink.
The check idea, too, is a really good idea.
The check idea, too, is a really good idea.
You can get one of those dogs collars with a smaller trackign device in it, take apart the collars, find the tiny device, and tape it into the inside of a box and stuff with some random crap and make it look like it was mailed to you. You can then use, after the package is stolen, the device door-to-door until it lets you know you've found it.
TrekBBS: The source for all your Evil-Macgyver solutions to everyday life.
ONly if he can do it with a paper clip as one of the items.
