Mailbox theft at Puyallup apartment complex has residents worried
Mar 6, 2025, 6:28 AM | Updated: 7:51 am
Surveillance footage obtained by KIRO 7 shows suspects breaking into mailboxes at a Puyallup apartment complex. (KIRO 7)
(KIRO 7)
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office is on the lookout for two suspects who broke into 24 mailboxes at a Puyallup apartment complex amid a surge in mail theft during tax season.
Deputy Carly Cappetto, public information officer for the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, noted an increase in mail theft across the region due to the sensitive nature of tax-related mail.
“It can lead to fraud, impersonation, and identity theft,” Cappetto told KIRO 7 News. She suspects that the thieves “might have a master key” and that “Given the frequency of these break-ins, they could be part of a larger criminal ring.”
A man and a woman were seen on surveillance footage breaking into the mailboxes and then leaving in a Honda.
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This isn’t the first time these apartments have been targeted
This incident, which happened on December 12, is not the first at the South Hill by Vintage Apartments. Resident Mike Capeli expressed his concerns, explaining that the mailboxes have been targeted at least four times in recent years.
Despite installing security cameras, the thefts continued.
“I feel overlooked and devastated,” Capeli said. “This is my home, and I want to feel safe.”
The apartment management declined to comment on the thefts to KIRO 7 News. Investigators recommend using a PO Box or secured mailing services, though they acknowledge the financial burden this may place on low-income families.
As of Wednesday, no arrests have been made. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
Contributing: Louie Tran, KIRO 7 News
