LOWER EAST SIDE, Manhattan (PIX11) — Residents in one Lower East Side New York City Housing Authority apartment building say they are frustrated that the mailbox locks in their building have been consistently broken by vandals since May.

Residents said the latch and panel securing the mailboxes keep getting destroyed. Ramon Cordero said he and his neighbors have tried getting answers from NYCHA and the U.S. Postal Service to fix the bank of mailboxes.

Cordero said NYCHA would come to fix it, but then the vandal(s) would return and do it again. He noted several cameras are nearby but whoever is responsible has not been caught.

Cordero said he’s had several checks go missing. And while walking several blocks to the Post Office on East Broadway to pick up mail is inconvenient for him, for older tenants, it’s impossible.

“NYCHA repaired the damage to the mailboxes, but they were unfortunately vandalized again. We are monitoring the situation. For more information, please reach out to the NYPD, as this is an active investigation,” a NYCHA spokesperson told PIX11 News on Wednesday.

A USPS spokesperson told PIX11 News:

“The U.S. Postal Service aims to deliver for our customers at the mailbox, as a part of our regular work to deliver for America. Crimes at the mailbox put undue complications on customers and on local post office operations. When it is safe to do so, regular delivery will return to this address. Law enforcement personnel in the U.S. Postal Inspection service are committed to investigate any reports of mail theft and will continue to work with local officials to resolve incidents.  Customers are encouraged to report stolen mail as soon as possible by submitting an online complaint to the Postal Inspection Service at www.uspis.gov/report or calling 877-876-2455.”

USPS spokesperson

The USPS also advised customers to take several steps to protect their mail, including:  

  • Sign up for Informed Delivery and get daily digest emails that preview your mail and packages scheduled to arrive soon.
  • Become involved and engaged in your neighborhood via neighborhood watches and local social media groups to spread awareness and share information.
  • Keep an eye out. If you see something that looks suspicious, call 911.  

PIX11 News will stay on this story, and if you have a story reach out to Monica Morales at monica@pix11.com.