Residents warned about mail theft in San Jose neighborhood

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- People in the South Bay are being warned to check their bank accounts after thieves broke into four mail trucks.

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Mail theft has become a real problem in the South Bay and around the Bay Area. This time four mail trucks were broken into in the past month. That's why 350 people in the Willow Glen neighborhood have been notified they could be victims.

The postal inspector said the thieves broke into the trucks when the carrier stepped away to make a delivery.

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While some residents told ABC7 News they do most of their important business online rather than through mail, they're still concerned about the crime. "You don't know what you don't know, we got stuff from our insurance company, so we were waiting for authorization. We were like, did it get taken? Willow Glen resident Katie Keene said.

It is a federal felony to break into a postal vehicle and steal mail.

If convicted, the thief could face up to five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

The postal service is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in this case.