‘This is not a safe post office:’ 297 Amazon parcels stolen in California, cops say
Authorities in Northern California are warning people to watch out for late or missing Amazon orders after nearly 300 packages were stolen from an Amador County post office.
An Amador County deputy responded to the post office in Pioneer on Monday and learned from the postmaster that 297 packages had been taken from four pallets of Amazon merchandise that were left behind the building over the weekend, the Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.
Postal officials said a courier for Amazon mistakenly dropped the merchandise at the facility on Sunday — but the Pioneer post office isn’t staffed that day, so Sunday deliveries are supposed to go to a nearby post office in Jackson, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
“Since the Post Office had not taken possession of the parcels, victim information was not available at this time,” deputies said, adding that the postmaster is trying to identify victims.
Officials “will also be contacting the Amazon courier service to identify the driver,” deputies said.
Some in the area already know they’ve lost packages. Others said they’re fearful holiday presents may have been stolen.
“They weren’t just gifts,” said Jessica Walling, who lost $500 in items ordered for her disabled mother and 5-year-old child, according to KTXL. “It’s not fair for someone to be so cruel. And I understand people have hard times and they make bad decisions, but you have to remember there are repercussions and you’re hurting people.”
There’s no video and there were no witnesses to the crime, KTXL reported.
Charmaine Starks, who lives near the post office, said packages she ordered recently were supposed to be holiday gifts, ABC 10 reports.
“I ordered some Apple watches and I’m just sick,” Starks said, according to the TV station.
Sharon Boyens didn’t blame the post office for losing the packages but said the theft could have been avoided with security cameras or improved lighting, ABC 10 reports.
“This is not a safe post office, not at night,” Boyens said, according to ABC 10.
An Amazon spokesperson said the driver worked for a third-party company, according to KTXL.
“This does not reflect the high standards we have for our contracted carriers. We are working with customers to make this right,” the spokesperson said, per KTXL.
It’s apparently not the first time parcels have been delivered in error to the closed Pioneer post office on a weekend.
“They should have gone to the Jackson Post Office and, in fact, this company did the same thing the previous Sunday,” Amador County Undersheriff Gary Redman said, according to KTXL.
Authorities figured out the number of packages stolen because tracking numbers were still on the plastic wrapping that was left behind, ABC 10 reported.
“If you have recently ordered items through Amazon and your order is late, please contact Amazon to inquire about the status of your order(s),” deputies advised.
This story was originally published December 3, 2019 at 9:42 PM with the headline "‘This is not a safe post office:’ 297 Amazon parcels stolen in California, cops say."
