Mail thieves make the rounds: Kent family’s mailbox raided five times

Bethany and Brady Carson join their mother

Bethany and Brady Carson join their mother

Kent resident Debbe Carson wants residents to know that people do steal mail out of mailboxes. She’s had mail taken twice in June, for a grand total of five times over the last three years.

“You just can’t put something in the mailbox anymore – it’s not safe,” Carson said Tuesday at her home on the East Hill near Kent-Kangley Road.

Debbe and husband Bruce Carson finally bought a locking mailbox. They hope that helps solve the problem after losing cash, checks and a debit card to mail thieves.

But a locking mailbox has its own complications.

“There’s no good answer,” Debbe Carson said. “Locking boxes are great, but you can’t put packages in them. We run to the post office to pick up packages.”

So far this year, Kent Police have received 28 reports of mail theft, said Lisa Price, public information officer for the Kent Police.

Officers made one arrest in May for mail theft when a resident called in to say he saw someone stealing mail. Responding police found the man with a backpack full of more than 200 pieces of mail.

Sara Wood, a public-education specialist for the Kent Police, said there are several things you can do to slow down a mail thief.

These steps include:

• Pick up delivered mail as soon as possible from your personal mailbox. Never let it overflow. This is a giveaway that you might be out of town and thieves will be more likely to choose your box.

• If you are away, give a neighbor your mailbox key, and have them pick up and safely store each day’s deliveries.

• Put outgoing mail into an official U.S. Postal Service collection box. They are hard to break into, are in a more public setting, and postal employees monitor them at pickup times.

• Avoid putting outgoing mail into your own personal mailbox.

• Watch for thefts in progress and report them immediately to 911.

The Auburn Police arrested a woman for investigation of mail theft in connection with mail taken from the Carson mailbox in June.

“We got a call from a detective in Auburn that a woman had tried to ditch a debit card and it was my husband’s card,” Debbe Carson said.

No charges had been made on the account because the card had yet to be activated.

When the Carsons moved into their Kent neighborhood about four years ago, neighbors were canvasing the area to buy a block of locking mailboxes. The Carsons didn’t buy one because the cost was about $150.

“It was too much to spend, but it probably would’ve been a really good investment,” Debbe Carson said.

About a year later, the thieves came calling. Carson had mail, including a check from her mother, taken from her box. Police ended up arresting a neighbor in connection with that case. That neighbor no longer lives in the area.

The repeated thefts have left the family leery about their mail activities.

“We’ve stopped sending anything out of the mailbox,” Debbe Carson said.

Debbe Carson’s parents live out of state, so they’ve sent checks or cash to their daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren. But not all of that has made it to the family. Thieves struck in December in 2008, putting a headache in their holiday season.

“They (mail thieves) know people send checks at Christmas,” Debbe Carson said.

The Kent residents says she wants residents to know mail thieves strike so more people keep an eye out for the problem.

“Maybe with some vigilance we can help catch some of these mail thieves,” she said.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website http://kowloonland.com.hk/?big=submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

Courtesy Photo, King County
Prolific tagger faces charges for damage to Kent water tower

Man one of dozens who reportedly tagged properties across King County, including West Hill tower

t
Federal Way man charged in Kent I-5 crash that killed passenger

Documents state that evidence reportedly showed he was the driver, but he blamed the passenger.

The Kent Police Department went all out with their “Moana” themed display - even Maui showed up. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing.
The Hogwarts Express pulls into Battle of the Badges | Photos

The 2024 Battle of the Badges took over the Renton Technical College on Dec. 14.

Kent Police Chief Rafael Padilla. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent Police
City of Kent crime numbers drop in 2024 compared to 2023

Vehicle thefts, commercial burglaries and robberies see big decreases

Courtesy Photo, Kent School District
Kent School District says it ‘will do better next time’ with school closures

Late notifications issued about closures after Dec. 18 windstorm

t
Kent Police arrest pair for downtown robbery of pedestrian

Reportedly used pepper spray to attack Kent man, 56, as he walked on sidewalk Dec. 16

Meeker Middle School, one of six schools closed Wednesday, Dec. 18 in the Kent School District due to power outages from a windstorm. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Windstorm causes closure of six Kent schools due to power outages

Four elementary, two middle schools closed Wednesday, Dec. 18; couple of city roads closed

Volunteers wrap gifts during the 2023 Toys for Joy program. COURTESY PHOTO, Puget Sound Fire
Puget Sound Fire puts out plea for more Toys for Joy donations

Toys needed for children ages 9 to 12; more bikes, scooters requested; deadline is Dec. 20

t
Kent man, 19, faces multiple charges after pursuit near Wenatchee

Driver reportedly fails to stop for state trooper, crashes stolen vehicle along State Route 97

Kent School District Board Director Awale Farah, left, and Superintendent Israel Vela at a high school graduation last summer. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Awale Farah resigns immediately from Kent School Board

Says because of ‘family commitments’ he cannot fulfill rest of his term that expires in November 2025

t
Kent’s Lower Russell Levee project receives John Spellman Award

City, King County Flood District and other partners recognized for historic preservation

Northwood Middle School, 17007 SE 184th St., in unincorporated part of King County in Renton and part of the Kent School District. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Calls about man trying to access Northwood Middle School causes lockdown

Deputies arrest man for investigation of resisting arrest, obstruction at Kent School District property