Thunder Bay Police Continue Investigation into Community Mailbox Theft

Thunder Bay – Thunder Bay Police Service have renewed their appeal to the public for assistance in an investigation into a recent spree of break-in and thefts from community mailboxes continues.

Police are aware of more than a dozen mailboxes being targeted, mostly in rural areas. Reports of the break-ins began coming in on the evening of Sunday, December 13, 2020. The incidents are believed to have taken place around that date and likely around the hours of 8 am and 4 pm.

Mailboxes in areas around Mountain Road, Roslyn Road and rural roads along Oliver Road were among the areas targeted.

Members of the Thunder Bay Police Service Break and Enter and Robbery (BEAR) Unit are now investigating these incidents.

If you have any video or photos of suspicious activity, vehicles or persons around targeted mailboxes between Sunday, December 13th and Tuesday, December 15th please contact the TBPS non-emergency line at 684-1200 to make arrangements to speak with investigators from the BEAR Unit.

Criminal Code – Stealing Mail

• 356 (1) Everyone commits an offence who

  • (a) steals

    • (i) anything sent by post, after it is deposited at a post office and before it is delivered, or after it is delivered but before it is in the possession of the addressee or of a person who may reasonably be considered to be authorized by the addressee to receive mail,

    • (ii) a bag, sack or other container or covering in which mail is conveyed, whether or not it contains mail, or

    • (iii) a key suited to a lock adopted for use by the Canada Post Corporation;

  • (a.1) with intent to commit an offence under paragraph (a), makes, possesses or uses a copy of a key suited to a lock adopted for use by the Canada Post Corporation, or a key suited to obtaining access to a receptacle or device provided for the receipt of mail;

  • (b) has in their possession anything that they know has been used to commit an offence under paragraph (a) or (a.1) or anything in respect of which they know that such an offence has been committed; or

  • (c) fraudulently redirects, or causes to be redirected, anything sent by post.

• Marginal note:Allegation of value not necessary

  (2) In proceedings for an offence under this section it is not necessary to allege in the indictment or to prove on the trial that anything in respect of which the offence was committed had any value.

• Marginal note:Punishment

  (3) Everyone who commits an offence under subsection (1)

  • (a) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 10 years; or

  • (b) is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.

You can also submit tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, online at www.p3tips.com.