Mail snatchers hit Bedford, Massachusetts this Monday when a thief ripped off a U.S. Postal Service mailbox, with cops giving chase before pulling back over safety fears. The early morning heist occurred outside the local post office, with a maroon Jeep Cherokee as the getaway vehicle, as reported by the Boston Herald. At about 1:30 a.m., a sharp-eyed Bedford police officer, staking out behind the post office at 158 Great Road, witnessed a suspect yank mail out of the blue USPS box before skedaddling in the Jeep.
The police reportedly bolted after the Jeep down Great Road and then onto I-95. But the driver, noted for their erratic maneuvers, was too hot to tail long without risking safety. The pursuit was called off, and no arrests have been reported. The Bedford Police, along with U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Department of Homeland Security, have now taken the reins of the investigation, according to a statement obtained by the WCVB.
Police Chief John Fisher issued a warning in the wake of the theft urging the public to be vigilant. "We want to warn anyone who may have deposited a check or other mail in the box behind the post office last night that this incident occurred," Fisher said. He remarked on the rise of mail theft and check washing, advising residents to hand-deliver mail directly to post offices or ensure it's dropped off before the final collection time for mailboxes.
An "arrow key", which grants access to USPS boxes in an area, is believed to be in the possession of the suspect, but confirmation is pending. Meanwhile, surveillance footage offered up only a hazy snapshot of the suspect's vehicle – a grainy photograph of the same maroon Jeep has been circulated on social media in the hopes of community assistance. Anyone recognizing the Jeep or having any related information is urged to contact the Bedford Police at 781-275-1212, as Fisher told the Boston Herald. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service also provides tips to prevent mail theft and secure personal information, a critical reminder considering the evidently growing threat.
