WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Two mail-truck thefts

3:22 PM: Two more USPS carriers’ mail trucks were stolen in West Seattle this afternoon; one has since been recovered, minus its contents. Both thefts were reported in the greater Alki area; the one that was found was missing its mail and packages, officers told dispatch. A home security camera from one scene is reported to have recorded a vehicle linked to the thieves, a purple early-’90s two-door Ford Ranger with a black canopy. No other details at the moment; the thefts were reported in the 5600 block of 57th SW (incident # 23-016226) and the 3300 block of Beach Drive (incident # 23-016223).

4:54 PM: According to police radio, the other one’s been found.

30 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Two mail-truck thefts"

  • Roms January 17, 2023 (3:35 pm)

    Two “more” 🤯 ? It looks like I missed the previous ones.

  • Al King January 17, 2023 (4:18 pm)

    Isn’t mail theft a federal crime? If so, wouldn’t postal inspectors and FBI be the lead agency’s investigating?

    • WSB January 17, 2023 (4:53 pm)

      I’m sure the case will eventually involve the Postal Inspection Service, if it hasn’t been flagged to them already. However, the USPIS does not just have a force of first responders sitting around in every neighborhood waiting to be called to something like this. I’ll be following up with them.

      • Al King January 17, 2023 (5:26 pm)

        WSB. I realize-and you’re correct the feds would be “after the fact” but curious what role SPD would have.

    • Pdavis January 17, 2023 (7:50 pm)

      You make an excellent point! When you start doing federal crimes, you are going to get a whole different type of investigation and punishment. Stealing the mail is extremely serious legally and yes, there will be a federal investigation and hopefully long long prison time.

    • Pdavis January 17, 2023 (7:52 pm)

      Class C  FELONY just for the mail, theft alone. Stealing a federal vehicle is another layer. 

  • Letter loser January 17, 2023 (4:48 pm)

    Is there a way to find out whether mail that was picked up was stolen? I’d like to cancel check/credit card information that I put in the mail if it was swiped.

    • WSB January 17, 2023 (4:57 pm)

      I don’t know what happens next in a case like this regarding informing potential victims; I’ll be following up with the Postal Inspection Service but won’t likely be able to reach them until tomorrow.

    • waikikigirl January 17, 2023 (5:02 pm)

      Letter loser, I’d just do the stop to be safe. You know that old saying… “better to be safe than sorry!”

    • bill January 17, 2023 (7:12 pm)

      Too late for this time but you can sign up for Informed Delivery. USPS sends you images of envelopes that are soon to be delivered. https://www.usps.com/manage/informed-delivery.htm

      • Oh Seattle January 18, 2023 (6:04 am)

        I found Informed Delivery very useful to identify which mail was received at the post office and was then stolen before it was delivered to my (locked) mailbox.  That way it wasn’t a complete surprise when I got a notification from one of my credit card companies letting me know someone was attempting to use the card they mailed at a nearby store.  Last year at this time, I had credit cards and various tax documents stolen after being scanned in at the post office.  I filed police reports, and a complaint with the Postal Inspection Service.  No response from anyone.  I finally posted signs outside my townhouse’s mailboxes saying mail was being stolen between the post office and delivery and the thefts stopped. 

      • Adam January 18, 2023 (8:43 am)

        Hey man, thanks a ton for this! Just signed up in like 3 total minutes. So easy 

  • MyThruppence January 17, 2023 (4:51 pm)

    Federal Pen for a long, long time when caught.

  • Eric1 January 17, 2023 (5:06 pm)

    Since it is okay to shoot pirates with a cap and ball pistol, is it okay to shoot mail pirate trucks with a black powder cannon?  Asking for a friend with a cannon.

  • Ziggy January 17, 2023 (5:28 pm)

    Mail truck was in my alley, I called it in when I saw the mail was in the alley. The FBI is taking statements, the same descriptions from above were noticed by my neighbors. 

  • cshecks January 17, 2023 (5:40 pm)

    Is this the 3rd time this has happened recently? Are the carriers leaving keys in the vehicle? Or are these vehicles easy to break in and hot wire? I would think the post office would have these vehicles highly secured considering the potential contents, but apparently not? Any letter carriers who can comment as the vehicle thefts seem surprising, especially after it already happened a few weeks back. 

  • Chris January 17, 2023 (6:06 pm)

    Thank you WSB.   Will be interesting to hear what guidance the Postal Inspection Service has.   This is quite a disconcerting development.   This is the third truck.  Wondering if they have themselves master keys to not only open the door but also start the truck???

  • WSB January 17, 2023 (6:58 pm)

    For those who asked, the previous mail-truck theft was last month:
    https://westseattleblog.com/2022/12/west-seattle-crime-watch-mail-truck-stolen-package-found-seasonal-prevention-tips/

  • zipda January 17, 2023 (7:00 pm)

    And the brilliant  criminals stole the worlds slowest getaway vehicle.

    • Pdavis January 17, 2023 (8:00 pm)

      Speed of a mail truck doesn’t matter when you just gonna drive around the block and grab the mail. But it’s a funny comment 😊

  • Alki resident January 17, 2023 (7:04 pm)

    Maybe post office needs to come up with a wheel lock. 

  • HD January 17, 2023 (7:07 pm)

    Postal Inspectors don’t mess around like the city or county prosecutors. They’re going to get serious time in a federal prison.

  • WestSeattleGal January 18, 2023 (5:15 am)

    Not even waiting for the W-2s to get into your mail boxes before stealing them.  Freeze your credit- free at all 3 credit agencies – before they steal your identity.  

  • SnailTruck January 18, 2023 (7:29 pm)

    2 questions:1) are these easily stolen because drivers are leaving keys in them when going to mailboxes? 2) i know it would be expensive to scale, but gps vehicle trackers can be purchased for $20 or less. Seems better than having them stolen. 

    • Al King January 18, 2023 (8:42 pm)

      Snailtruck. Postal inspector interviewed on news tonight-he was on Alki. Mail trucks were locked, and mailman had keys in their pockets. Inspector said ALL the proper steps and protocols had been taken by the carriers.

  • Phineas Bluster January 18, 2023 (7:49 pm)

    Anyone know which PO station trucks  belong to? 

    • WSB January 18, 2023 (8:08 pm)

      The area in which they were taken is served by the Junction post office.

  • OZ January 20, 2023 (1:32 pm)

    My brand new credit card had a lot of fun down in Tukwilla that night and the next day!

  • cljskis January 27, 2023 (5:17 pm)

    Apparently a package I never received was on one of the trucks, the post office was less then helpful, basically shrugged their should and said sorry, I can file a claim (after 45 from shipping date) but other than that I was out of luck. I wish I could choose what shipper is used when I order stuff. USPS is completely useless and takes absolutely no responsibility for anything 

Sorry, comment time is over.