"By the time you’ve filed reports, frozen credit, and replaced prescriptions, you’ve lost even more time and money."”

Elizabeth Penrose, Aspen Springs

GILPIN COUNTY - Mail theft has become a growing concern for some residents in Gilpin County.

Several neighborhoods report repeated incidents of stolen packages, checks, and even prescription medications. What was once an occasional nuisance has turned into a costly and frustrating pattern for many households.

Losses adding up

Aspen Springs neighborhood resident Elizabeth Penrose said her mailbox has been targeted almost weekly since early summer, resulting in an estimated $5,000 in losses. Neighbors have reported similar thefts involving passports, heirlooms, and irreplaceable documents. 

Reports of stolen mail have appeared periodically in the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office logs over the past decade. Statewide, mail theft has been on the rise as criminals target roadside boxes and outdated cluster units, CBS News Colorado reported in March 2024.

Rural delivery challenges

Most homes in Gilpin County rely on shared cluster mailboxes located along county roads. These metal units, often installed years ago, have become easy targets. 

Upgrading to secure locking units has proven difficult. The U.S. Postal Service requires unanimous approval from all users of a mailbox cluster before any improvements can be made. 

In areas with part-time residents and vacation homes, that approval is hard to obtain. Penrose said the estimated cost of installation—including concrete pads—has risen from about $500 to nearly $5,000 per site, leaving only a few people willing to pay out of pocket.

Seeking local support

A group of residents has installed security cameras and contacted county officials for assistance in replacing the vulnerable units. According to Penrose, their request for a small contribution from the County was denied with the explanation that no funds were available in the budget for such projects.

In response, residents have created an online petition urging the Gilpin County Commissioners to establish a “Locking Mailbox Theft-Prevention Program.” The proposal calls for collaboration with the Postal Service to fund and install USPS-approved locking mailboxes across the county.

Penrose said she is currently working with investigators on an active case and declined to share details that could interfere with it. 

She described the experience of repeated thefts as draining and disruptive. “I’m pissed. And I’m tired,” she said. “Most of us don’t get our money back, and by the time you’ve filed reports, frozen credit, and replaced prescriptions, you’ve lost even more time and money.”

She said the most valuable items stolen from her mailbox included her son’s heart monitor, her family’s passports, and the deed to their home. 

In recent months, she and several neighbors have spent their own money on security measures and are organizing an effort to install secure cluster boxes across their area. With support from the postmaster and U.S. Postal Inspection Service, they plan to present their proposal to the Gilpin County Commissioners on November 18.

Broader impacts

Theft of mail can cause more than financial loss. Residents have reported stolen checks leading to fraudulent charges, as well as missing medication deliveries. One victim said a stolen document later resulted in an unexpected $20,000 car payment.

Mail theft is a federal crime investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the law enforcement arm of the United States Postal Service, but prosecutions are rare due to limited resources and overlapping jurisdictions. Local authorities encourage residents to document each incident and file reports with both the Sheriff’s Office and USPIS investigators.

Steps residents can take

Law enforcement recommends several preventive measures:

1. Collect mail promptly and avoid leaving it overnight.

2. Use well-lit areas or install home security cameras.

3. Consider a post office box for high-value deliveries.

4. Participate in community efforts to secure cluster boxes.

Community push for change

The petition’s organizers hope county leaders will recognize the scope of the problem and allocate modest funding to help offset installation costs. 

With an estimated county budget of $34 million and reserves of nearly $25 million, residents argue that a small investment could prevent significant financial and emotional losses.

County response

Commissioner Sandy Hollingsworth, in response to questions from The Mountain-Ear, said Gilpin public works has been actively working on this for the last year, and the department has been in touch with the postmaster.

“We've reached out to [Congressman Joe] Neguse’s office, and they're offering to help," she said. "They just want more details like where it is and how many boxes. Because they've helped in other parts of the state in their district with rural mail theft…so we are proactively working on it.”

Conclusion

Mail theft has quietly become one of the most persistent crimes in the mountains, affecting full-time and part-time residents alike. For now, neighbors are relying on one another to protect what’s rightfully theirs.

To read or sign the petition, visit:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSds4QKGK9MjsJly968WMUcmZgErfp6ibSQDyUOGHMgWdctwUQ/viewform.