Community Mailbox in Brampton Broken Into, Resident Concerned About Identity Theft

Carlos Martins was left “livid” when he discovered his community mailbox had been broken into during a recent check. “There was nothing in there. It was empty,” Martins, a long-time Brampton resident, said. “There were quite a few latches on the ground as well.”

Canada Post and Peel police are investigating the break-in, which targeted around a dozen mailboxes at a community site in east Brampton earlier this month. The incident was reported on March 11 after the break-ins took place on Ravenscliffe Court, near Chinguacousy Road and Williams Parkway.

Martins expressed concern over the potential for identity theft. “What other reasons are these people opening those things up? They’re after something,” he said. He added that similar incidents occurred last summer at the same mailbox, though Peel police found no reported occurrences in 2024. Canada Post, however, declined to share specific details on the number of incidents last year.

“We can confirm there have been recent vandalism incidents at community mailbox sites in the Ravenscliffe Court neighborhood,” said Canada Post spokesperson Lisa Liu. “We take these matters and the security of the mail very seriously. As there is an investigation, we do not provide further details or metrics on the incidents.”

Martins, who has lived in the area for 15 years, has requested that Canada Post relocate the mailbox to a more visible, higher-traffic area on the street and upgrade it to one with enhanced security features. “This has happened way too many times. We need surveillance here. Somebody needs to be caught,” Martins emphasized.

Liu explained that Canada Post doesn’t publicly share specific security measures related to their equipment to maintain its effectiveness.

For residents worried about identity fraud, Canada Post advises contacting the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.

Peel police spokesperson Const. Sarah Patten confirmed that the break-in was reported on March 11, noting that Martins had been informed early on March 10 that the mailbox had been vandalized and an unknown amount of mail was stolen. The police have yet to identify any suspects. “We encourage residents to report these incidents to Canada Post and to the police,” Patten said, mentioning that there were 210 incidents of community mailbox thefts or mischief in Peel Region last year.

To help prevent mail theft, Peel police recommend these tips:

• Collect your mail daily.

• Suspend your mail delivery if you plan to be away.

• Never send cash through the mail.

• Ask a friend or family member to collect your mail while you’re away.

• Report suspicious activity to the police.

In October, the Ontario Provincial Police issued a warning about increased mail thefts at both community and individual mailboxes in Caledon.