Never Use Exterior Mailboxes In Illinois

Exterior drop boxes in Illinois have become an unsafe method to send out mail.

Did You Know That You Should Never Use Exterior Mailboxes In Illinois?

I remember as a kid always using exterior drop boxes for the mail. They were all over Illinois neighborhoods. There was one just a few blocks from where I grew up. My parents had me go to it all the time to send out letters. It was no big deal. Even here in Rockford, I would use the one at Colonial Village Mall until recently.

There was always the chance of someone trying to steal your mail. Especially, if your box was on the street. Though, it didn't happen very often. As consumers started ordering more products off of the internet, then came those evil Porch Pirates. They would comb Illinois neighborhoods looking for packages left unattended by the front door.

The Porch Pirates wanted to up their stealing game. They started hitting exterior mailboxes. Then, the thieves would break into the UPS drop boxes. They've gone as far as to actually take things directly out of the trucks. One even stole a delivery vehicle. It seems like they aren't afraid of getting caught.

Never Use Exterior Mailboxes In Illinois

According to cbsnews.com,

Illinois Couple's Wedding Invitations Stolen From Exterior Mailbox

A couple from Illinois was getting excited about their big day. They had all the plans made. It was going to be an expensive event but it was important for them to have a special time to celebrate with friends and family. The pair spent extra time creating the invitations. They couldn't wait to hear back from everyone. People started responding but it wasn't what they were expecting.

The pair used an exterior mailbox to send them out. It was hit by thieves who took everything inside including the invitations. The suspects realized those letters had no value so they just tossed them out in the street. Luckily, a few neighbors found them and returned them to the couple. Unfortunately, by the time they were returned, the invites were all ruined and unusable. At least, they found out way in advance. Imagine if they didn't know. That could've been a disaster. It's just another reason to never use exterior mailboxes.

The Most Bizarre Items Ever Stolen From Illinois Residents

My mom once told me that "people will steal anything that's not nailed down." Times certainly have changed since then. The thieves now have nail removers.