Thunder Bay mail theft affects up to 200 residents

A recent theft from community mailboxes in Thunder Bay has the Canadian Union of Postal Workers sounding the alarm about Canada Post’s plans to cancel home delivery.

The union reports a large number of community mailboxes, including at Woodcrest Road at John St. Road and Woodcrest at Greenwood Lane were broken into over the weekend, resulting in stolen mail for more than 100 residents.

A spokesperson for Canada Post told CBC News the mailboxes serve 200 customers, but the corporation is unsure how much if any mail was taken.  Eugene Knapik said the theft occurred last Sunday night, and is under investigation.

Knapik said the community boxes are "relatively" secure, but Canada Post is not immune to criminal activity, adding that "determined criminals can break into just about anything."

"They're a one-stop shop for thieves," said Joanne Nowosad, president of the Thunder Bay Local of CUPW.

"Home delivery is better and safer for people."

Canada Post announced one year ago that it would be ending home delivery and switch to community mailboxes.

But the union says they were originally intended as a temporary measure — and only for newer developments — when they were first introduced.

Since the announcement of the cuts at Canada Post, the union says hundreds of municipalities have passed resolutions or sent letters in support of door-to-door delivery.

"Canada Post's new made-in-the-USA mailboxes will be just as easy to break into," said Nowosad.

"Canada Post is on track for another profitable year. It should use its profits to improve services by expanding home delivery so we won't have to put up with these break-ins."

Knapik said people affected by the recent breakins have been picking up their mail at an alternate location since the incident.  The locks have now been changed at the breakin sites, and new keys were to be delivered to customers on Thursday.