Chico neighborhood mail stolen, all caught on camera

Security footage captured the thieves getting out of their car, opening all of the mailboxes with what postal inspectors say is a possible counterfeit key.

New tonight - mail stolen after theives broke into a chico neighborhood mailbox-- and it was all caught on camera.

Action news now reporter esteban reynoso is live where the incident took place.

Esteban, how do neighbors feel about this?

This is the mailbox that was broken into in chico, and neighbors around here are worried with the holidays right around the corner how to stop this from happening again.

"it was rather shocking because you think you have your locked and secured boxes and that's what keeps your mail safe and then you come to find out it's just not."

Neighbors walked up to their mailbox expecting mail like any other day, but when they opened it up, it was completely empty inside.

Security footage captured the thieves getting out of their car, opening all of the mail boxes with what inspectors say is a possible counterfeit key, taking all the mail inside, and driving away.

It all took less than 50 seconds.

"just how fast and easy they were able to get the mail."

Mail theft is a federal crime with a penalty of up to 5 years in prison.

So what will the post office do to prevent this from happening?

Do you change the locks, is there a more active route, what's kind of the process in that aspect?

"there's a number of things that will be addressed.

We'll be looking at security related solutions but the thing is we don't want to sicuss what those things are because we don't want to explain to anyone who knows the system how this thing works."

So how can you prevent your packages from being stolen?

"if you're ordering something, have someone at the house when it's being delivered.

If you're not gonna be home when the delivery time is, there's ways to have the package held or you could go pick it up."

Chico p-d says think you have your locked and secured boxes and that's what keeps your mail safe and then you come to find out it's just not."

Neighbors walked up to their mailbox expecting mail like any other day, but when they opened it up, it was completely empty inside.

Security footage captured the thieves getting out of their car, opening all of the mail boxes with what inspectors say is a possible counterfeit key, taking all the mail inside, and driving away.

It all took less than 50 seconds.

"just how fast and easy they were able to get the mail."

Mail theft is a federal crime with a penalty of up to 5 years in prison.

So what will the post office do to prevent this from happening?

Do you change the locks, is there a more active route, what's kind of d t have the package held or you could go pick it up."

Chico p-d says once reports of stolen items comes in with footage of the suspects, it's routine traffic stops that often times lead to their arrest, because the officers recognize them.

Live in chico, esteban reynoso for action news now.

If you have seen anyone matching the description in the video or the car, you are urged to call chico p-d.