Mail Thefts Keep Stacking Up In Montclair, Another USPS Truck Hit: Police

MONTCLAIR, NJ — A postal service truck was hit by a mail thief in Montclair this week, authorities say – again.

Over the past few years, at least six U.S. Post Office trucks have seen mail thefts, according to police reports (see below).

The latest incident took place on Washington Street on Dec. 8, according to the Montclair Police Department:

“A letter carrier for the Postal Service reported that she parked her postal van on Washington Street at approximately 2:20 p.m. After delivering the mail, she returned to the van 20 minutes later to discover four trays of mail had been taken from the van.”

It’s the second time that a postal carrier has reported a theft this month in Montclair.

Another incident took place Dec. 1 on Prospect Avenue. A letter carrier for the U.S. Post Office told officers that he returned to his truck after walking his route and discovered that the sliding door to his truck was open. Two trays of mail were missing, he added. The mail carrier said he didn’t witness the theft or see any suspects.

Similar incidents have been reported in Montclair this year.

In September, a postal service worker told police that he parked his truck on Lorraine Avenue and began delivering mail along his route. At some point during his route, the postal worker looked back at his vehicle and saw that the passenger side window was shattered and the door was open. When he went to check on the vehicle, the employee saw that two full trays of mail and a small bundle had been stolen. A witness said they saw a black, four-door sedan idle beside the truck, then speed away from the scene.

>> READ MORE: Another Postal Worker Reports Mail Theft In Montclair

In August, someone broke into a U.S. Postal Service truck on Nassau Road in Montclair and stole two trays of mail – as well as the driver’s lunch, police previously reported.

The passenger’s side window was broken and the door was found ajar, authorities said. A witness reported that he was inside of his home when he heard a loud bang. He told police it sounded like a “crowbar hitting the pavement.”

The witness went to his front door to look outside and saw a black hatchback – possibly a Mercedes Benz – parked directly in front of the mail truck. He told officers that a man dressed in all black threw an object into the car and got into the passenger side of the vehicle. The car then drove away in the direction of Valley Road.

>> READ MORE: Thief Breaks Into Postal Truck, Steals Mail – And Driver’s Lunch: Police Say

Other similar thefts in Montclair have included:

• North Fullerton Avenue – Someone stole mail out of a U.S. Postal Service worker’s van while he was making deliveries in June 2024 (learn more here).
• Oxford Street – A man allegedly stole a bin out of a U.S. Post Office letter carrier’s truck while the worker was delivering his mail in January 2023 (learn more here).
• High Street – An employee with the U.S. Postal Service reported that while he was out on his route, an unknown person entered his postal truck and stole an unknown amount of mail in December 2023 (learn more here)

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com