David Reynolds continues to recover, so Daniel Mackay again provides us with another COBURG HILLS NEWS feature. Thank you, Daniel!


Eugene’s ongoing mailbox theft crisis has exposed fissures between federal and local law enforcement protocols while disrupting daily life for residents and straining civic infrastructure. Since December 2024, thieves targeting cluster mailboxes have struck over 30 times, with the Fox Hollow neighborhood hit particularly hard on April 9, 2025, when nearly every mailbox along Fox Hollow Road was vandalized. Witnesses consistently describe an older white Ford F-150 truck – often loaded with car tires or motorcycle parts – used to pry open mailboxes before fleeing.


Federal vs. Local Jurisdictional Tensions

The Eugene Police Department (EPD) has faced mounting criticism for its perceived passivity, but officials stress that mail theft falls under the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s (USPIS) jurisdiction. While EPD collects security footage and incident reports, federal agents lead prosecutions due to stricter penalties under 18 U.S. Code § 1708. This division often leaves residents feeling abandoned, as USPIS – already grappling with a national backlog of cases – prioritizes theft rings with interstate ties over localized sprees.


Resident Challenges and Systemic Impacts

After a break-in, affected households must navigate a labyrinth of repairs and safeguards:

  • Immediate reporting to both EPD’s online portal and USPIS hotline, though delays in processing often leave mail suspended for days.
  • Replacing damaged mailboxes at personal expense, with USPS requiring upgrades to anti-pry models-a cost many renters and landlords dispute.
  • Monitoring credit reports for identity theft, as stolen checks and tax documents circulate on dark web markets.

The thefts have paralyzed mail delivery in entire neighborhoods, forcing residents to collect mail in person at overcrowded post offices. Small businesses report unpaid invoices due to intercepted checks, while utility companies face a surge in late payments from stolen bills.


Many residences and businesses have become dependent on mailed deliveries using Amazon or other services. The disruption to mail delivery is interfering with the delivery of both essentials (including medications in a few instances) and discretionary purchases. Meanwhile the machinery of Eugene law enforcement, for which each Eugene citizen pays an average of $365 annually, is frozen.


Patterns and Unanswered Questions

The Fox Hollow Road incident followed the now-familiar blueprint: suspects struck at dawn, avoiding Ring cameras by wearing masks and gloves. Similar tactics were used in December 2024 heists on Willow Creek Road and Parliament Street, where thieves exploited pre-dawn darkness and holiday mail volumes. Despite multiple sightings of the white truck, its nondescript appearance and likely stolen license plates have foiled identification.


USPIS’s Project Safe Delivery – a 2023 initiative to harden postal infrastructure – has yet to reach Eugene, where aging cluster mailboxes remain vulnerable. Local officials urge Congress to fast-track funding for reinforced designs, but with no arrests made since the spree began, residents increasingly rely on DIY security measures like mailbox sensors and community patrols.