HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The owner of an office building in northwest Houston reported that surveillance cameras captured a man stealing mail from over three dozen mailboxes.
On July 3, video footage shows a man in a green shirt approaching the mailboxes at the building on West 34th Street just before 5:30 a.m. He briefly disappears from view, then reemerges carrying so much mail that he has to store it in a backpack.
The next day, the same man, wearing the same green shirt, returns. This time, the video shows him holding something in his hand and tampering with the mailboxes. He manages to open eight boxes simultaneously and leaves with more stolen mail.
“Evidently, he’s got a master key and was able to open up and steal all the mail out of there,” said Larry Longer, an attorney and the building’s owner.
Longer handed over the video footage to the Houston Police Department (HPD) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. HPD confirmed receiving the footage but couldn’t confirm if investigators have reviewed it yet. Since the man in the video hasn’t been officially named a suspect, Eyewitness News blurred his face.
In the meantime, Longer is advising his tenants not to leave outgoing mail in the boxes and is ensuring they receive their incoming mail. “We’ve asked the carrier to bring the mail to our office for the entire building, and then we personally deliver it to all the tenants,” he explained.
Longer is also closely monitoring his own mail for any suspicious activity. “I’m keeping an eye on all my bank accounts. I have multiple accounts and a lot of checks to track, making sure they are cashed by the correct people,” he said.
