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Mail delivery resumes in Summit County after ‘local postal emergency.’ Investigation into post office burglaries continues.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service said in an email a week after the burglaries that no additional information is available due to an ongoing investigation

A note posted to a cluster of mailboxes in the Smith Ranch neighborhood in Summit County states that mail service to the delivery point has been suspended, "due to a local postal emergency." The U.S. Postal Inspection Service said Tuesday, Aug. 27, that it is investigating post office burglaries in the Summit County area.
Ryan Spencer/Summit Daily News

The U.S. Postal Service says it has resumed mail delivery to cluster boxes in Summit County neighborhoods after burglaries at local post offices late last month led to countywide interruptions to mail delivery.

But a week after the Dillon Police Department arrested an individual at the Dillon Post Office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service said Tuesday, Sept. 3, that no additional information is available on the burglaries due to an ongoing investigation.

“Since this is an ongoing investigation, I can’t provide any additional information at this time,” U.S. Postal Inspector Melissa Atkin said in an email. “However, as soon as we have a public announcement, I will definitely reach out.”



The Dillon Police Chief Cale Osborn said on Tuesday, Aug. 27, that officers responded to the Dillon Post Office around 4 a.m. that morning when an employee called 911 to report an active burglary.

At the scene, police arrested a woman on a warrant out of Aurora. Osborn had previously said that the woman would be charged with burglary, but he said Sept. 3 that she has not yet been charged in relation to the post office situation.



Atkin last week confirmed that the U.S. Postal Inspection Service is investigating burglaries at the Dillon and Silverthorne post offices that occurred Aug. 24. Osborn said last week that Dillon Police responded to an intrusion alarm at the Dillon Post Office around 1:30 a.m. Aug. 24 but found nobody inside. He also said there have been burglaries at post office facilities at Copper Mountain, Idaho Springs and Silverthorne that law enforcement believe are connected.

Osborn said last week that police suspect multiple people are involved in the burglaries and this “is not a chance burglary in Dillon by any means.” The Dillon Police Department is supporting the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s investigation into the burglaries.

“We’re working closely with the postal inspectors to identify suspects,” Osborn said this week.

The burglaries interrupted delivery to cluster boxes in Summit County neighborhoods last week. Notices posted on the mailboxes last week cited a “local postal emergency” and directed residents to pick up their mail at the Dillon Post Office.

U.S. Postal Service spokesperson James Boxrud said in an email that delivery to these cluster boxes resumed on Friday, Aug. 30.

To help prevent mail theft, residents shouldn’t let incoming or outgoing mail sit in the mailbox and should remove mail daily, Boxrud said. Outgoing mail can be securely deposited by taking it to the local post office or by handing it to a mail carrier. Residents can also sign up for Informed Delivery to get daily digest emails that preview mail and packages that are scheduled to arrive soon, he said.

If customers have any missing mail or realize that they are a victim of identity theft or check fraud due to mail theft, they can file a report online at PostalInspectors.USPIS.gov or by phone at 877-876-2455.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service did not address emailed questions sent by the Summit Daily News, including questions about what law enforcement believes was stolen during the burglaries.

“The security of the U.S. Mail is important to us,” Atkin said. “Any leads associated to those responsible for these burglaries is greatly appreciated and will be promptly pursued.”


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