Early yesterday morning, in a brazen series of events that has Sacramento County buzzing, two post offices were burglarized, with laptops, ballots, and an assortment of mail items now reported missing. As detailed by ABC10, the targeted locations were on C Street in Isleton, and another on Highway 160 in Ryde.
At the Isleton Post Office, the culprits apparently forced entry through the backdoor, securing a laptop, and various mail parcels in their wake, as per FOX40. Meanwhile, the Ryde location saw its front door pried open, where assailants made off with yet another laptop and more mail, including several ballots intended for November's election, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office reported. Notably, the Sacramento Sheriff's Office also stated on ABC10, "some of the mail stolen in the PO boxes were ballots for the November election," a fact that could reverberate through the community as voting season intensifies.
This dual theft has sparked a coordinated investigation by local law enforcement in collaboration with federal postal inspectors. Thieves typically target mail for financial gain, often in pursuit of checks or credit cards—a pattern echoed by United States Postal Inspector Mathew Norfleet. "It would be quite a coincidence for two small towns, on the same highway, to get burglarized within 15 minutes of each other and for those people not to know each other," Norfleet told ABC10, underscoring a possibility that these incidents may be connected.
For residents anxiously awaiting ballots that may now be compromised, officials urge immediate action. United States Postal Inspector Mathew Norfleet advises, "anyone who was expecting to get a ballot but has not received one should contact the Registrar of Voters," ABC10 relayed. Thefts of such personal items not only disrupt civic duties but, the sense of security that the postal system strives to uphold.
The Sheriff’s Property Crimes detectives and the United States Postal Inspector are urging anyone with information on these burglaries to step forward. Confidential tips can be directed to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office at (916) 874-5115 or to the Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at (916) 443-4357. Those whose information leads to an arrest may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1000, and may choose to remain anonymous in the process.
