The Shocking Apartment Mail Theft Case That Changed Everything — And What Property Managers Must Learn From It

On the first day of every month, the manager of an apartment complex in the Beach Park area of Des Moines, Iowa, would unlock the office wall-mounted rent drop box and collect nearly 120–130 checks and money orders. It was a routine he had followed for years.

When the manager opened the deposit box, he found nothing inside. More than $60,000 worth of rent payments had vanished.

Shocked, he immediately contacted Sgt. Bob Collins of the Des Moines Police Department. Investigators discovered a sticky, glue-like substance inside and outside the drop box—evidence that the thief used a “fishing” technique: lower a string coated in adhesive, let checks stick to it, and pull them out.

The “Sticky Bandits” Strike Again

Just a week later, on September 8, authorities received another report from a nearby apartment complex. A tenant who had deposited a money order in a similar drop box received a late payment notice. When police inspected the box, they found:

• The same sticky residue

• Altered payee details on recovered money orders

• Nighttime surveillance footage of a hooded figure using a string to fish out mail

It became clear: someone was targeting apartment drop boxes in the area, and tenants were being blamed for payments they had actually made.

A Lucky Break Reveals the Thieves

The turning point came on September 14 when a beachgoer using a metal detector saw a suspicious couple walking out of nearby bushes discussing, “nothing in the mail today.” Curious, he checked the bushes and found a pile of opened and discarded mail.

He took the evidence to police, providing a detailed description of the couple. This led to the arrest of a husband-and-wife team responsible for the thefts.

During questioning, the husband confessed—and what he revealed shocked investigators. They weren’t just stealing rent payments. They had been:

• Breaking into unsecured apartment mailboxes

• Collecting credit cards, checks, gift cards, and cash

• Targeting mailboxes in multiple cities

• Studying which mailbox brands were easiest to break into

Their operation was organized, calculated, and widespread.

How They Picked Their Targets

Sgt. Collins explained that the couple became “experts” in identifying weak apartment mailboxes. They tested different models repeatedly until they knew exactly which ones could be breached in seconds.

The husband admitted,

“Some apartment mailboxes take less than three seconds to fish mail out of. Others are so secure you learn not to waste your time.”

The Real Loss: Trust and Tenant Confidence

For the apartment manager who lost all the rent payments, the financial hit wasn’t the worst part.

“The biggest damage was losing the trust we built with our tenants,” he said.
“In one day, they destroyed what took years to create.”

After the incident:

• 11 tenants gave notice

• Complaints increased dramatically

• Residents no longer felt safe

• The property’s reputation suffered deeply

Mail theft affects more than money—it damages the entire community’s peace of mind.

Two Critical Steps Every Apartment Manager Must Take

Sgt. Collins emphasized two actions that can dramatically reduce the risk of mail theft:

1. Upgrade to High-Security Apartment Mailboxes

Most tenants expect secure apartment doors—but fail to think about their apartment mailbox, which is far easier for thieves to exploit.

Property managers should upgrade to USPS-approved 4B+ or 4C high-security mailboxes, especially:

• Wall-mounted rent drop boxes

• Horizontal/vertical mailbox units

• Cluster Box Units (CBUs)

These units have stronger locks, tamper-resistant construction, and anti-fishing safeguards.

2. Report Suspicious Activity Immediately

Mailbox thieves often test or try to break into units for 20–30 minutes—especially if they don’t know the mailbox is too secure.

If you see someone loitering near a mailbox:

✔ Call the police
✔ Report unusual behavior
✔ Document incidents for management

Quick reporting can stop a criminal in the act.

A Nationwide Problem

Apartment mailbox theft is not rare. Around the same time:

• Miami: thieves pried open condo mailboxes

• Indiana: six tenants and multiple businesses reported forced mailboxes

• Dallas: an apartment complex went weeks without mail after thieves destroyed mailbox locks

Cheap, outdated mailboxes are easy prey for criminals.

Choosing the Right High-Security Mailbox

When upgrading, property managers should look for:

✔ USPS-Approved 4B+ or 4C features

✔ Tamper-resistant doors and locks

✔ Anti-fishing protection

✔ Heavy-gauge construction

Brands like Auth Florence Manufacturing produce:

• Vertical mailboxes

• Horizontal mailboxes

• Drop boxes

• Cluster Box Units (CBUs)

• USPS-approved pedestal-mounted units

Note:
4C Pedestal Mailboxes were discontinued in 2020; USPS-approved “F-series” CBUs are now the standard for multifamily mail delivery.

CBUs are available in 8, 12, 13, and 16-compartment configurations—ideal for apartment complexes.

Protect Your Property, Residents, and Reputation

Mail theft isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a serious threat to tenant safety, identity protection, and community trust.

Upgrading to secure apartment mailboxes is one of the most cost-effective ways to:

• Protect tenant information

• Reduce theft risks

• Strengthen your property’s security reputation

• Prevent costly legal or operational issues

• Maintain tenant satisfaction and retention