Peters police investigating post office theft

It was kind of like a scene from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”
Someone with a key early the morning of Dec. 16 opened the large, blue main drop box that sits in front of the McMurray branch of the U.S. Postal Service in Donaldson’s Crossroads, and took the push cart containing mail that was waiting to be processed. The push cart, made up of a wooden platform with a wire frame with canvas siding, is valued at $200 and is around 30 years old, police said.
Some pieces of the missing mail were later recovered in a Dumpster belonging to the Citizen’s Bank branch at the shopping center, police said.
There were no visible signs that the box was forcibly broken into. The incident was reported to Peters Township police around 9:30 a.m., police said.
Police do not know how much, or the value of the mail taken. But, this theft came two days after Dec. 14, the busiest mailing day of the year. It is estimated that more than 612 million pieces of mail were posted that day.
The incident, which police are calling a theft by unlawful taking, remains under investigation. Police said they expect the Postal Service to become involved in the investigation as well.
To protect mail against thieves, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service suggests using the mail slots inside the post office, or handing mail directly to the letter carrier. If a check, or other piece of valuable mail is not delivered in a timely fashion, then contact the issuing agency. Also, report all suspected mail theft to the Postal Inspector.