Update: Monday, 4:46 p.m. Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) released the following statement regarding the reported mail theft at six post offices in Henrico County, Chesterfield County and Richmond.
“I am deeply troubled by the reports of mail theft at multiple USPS drop-off boxes across the Richmond area. Access to these mailboxes is critical during the pandemic as we are all limiting our contact with others and choosing to utilize mailboxes rather than go inside the post office. It is a shame that someone has chosen to compromise this important resource for our communities.
“Folks rely on these boxes to drop off bill payments, to send letters to friends and family and of course this year, to mail in their absentee ballots. We do not yet know if absentee ballots were among the stolen mail or if these thefts were coordinated, but I am certain that USPS and the FBI will fully investigate these incidents.
“We must do everything we can to make sure our mail is secure. I have a good, longstanding relationship with our local USPS leadership, and I will continue to stay in touch with them throughout this investigation.”
First report: Monday, 2:06 p.m. Six outdoor mail collection boxes in Henrico, Chesterfield and Richmond were broken into over the weekend, and the United States Postal Service is investigating.
The Virginia Department of Elections is also on the case, in the event that any mail-in ballots that may have been deposited into the boxes might have been stolen.
Anyone who dropped mail in the boxes at the post offices between 3 p.m. Saturday and 7 a.m. this morning should contact a USPS hotline at 877-876-2455 to report it.
Voters can track their ballot online to see if it has been received by going to “check my registration” at elections.virginia.gov/voterinformation.
If a voter needs a new ballot issued, they should contact their local general registrar’s office at elections.virginia.gov/localGR.
The following post offices were affected:
Henrico
- 4990 Sadler Place
- 2000 Starling Drive
- 2100 E. Parham Road
Chesterfield
- 7510 Lady Blair Lane
- 1201 Sycamore Square Drive
Richmond
- 805 Glenburnie Road
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