Crime is on the rise in San Diego. News reports, social media posts, and street talk among neighbors all spotlight an increasing trend. Porch pirates are commonplace. Shoplifters compel retailers to lock up sundry staples like batteries and toothpaste. Armed robberies, burglaries, and debit card skimming also appear to be on the rise.
So I suppose today’s incident here in University Heights shouldn’t surprise anyone. Late morning, my wife and I walked over to a parallel street, where we came upon a police car and our mail carrier speaking with someone who turned out to be his supervisor. Busted window and glass on the pavement revealed what happened.
In the seven minutes from when the mailman left the vehicle to do deliveries, someone smashed the glass, reached through the opening to unlock the door, grabbed a container full of letters and packages, and escaped. Cops suggested by car. Another neighbor found the empty mail bin discarded two blocks away.
What makes the theft brazen was the location. The mail truck was parked in an apartment building parking space rather than on the street. Our carrier is several decades on the job, and he said nothing like this has ever happened before.
I documented serendipitously, to avoid interfering with the investigation. The Featured Image and companion from Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Vitals: f/3.4, ISO 32, 1/900 sec, 115mm (film equivalent); 12:01 p.m. PDT. The other is same but 1/1600 sec and 11:58 a.m. Note: First photo was altered to obscure identifying numbers on building, license plates, and mail trucks.