Super mailboxes in B.C. targeted thousands of times, records reveal

By Alexandra Gibb, Jason Proctor, Rene Filippone, Jonathan Derouchie and Mike Laanela, CBC News Posted:Jul 30, 2013 6:13 PM PT

Pressure is growing on Canada Post amid revelations there are far more incidents of community mailbox vandalism, break-ins and tampering in British Columbia than previously revealed.
Documents obtained by CBC News through a freedom of information request show that Canada Post has recorded more than 4,800 incidents involving community mailboxes, ranging from vandalism and arson to mail theft.  The incidents were recorded in more than 130 communities across the province between 2008 and 2013. The community mailboxes, also known as super-boxes, have replaced home delivery in many Canadian communities as part of a cost-cutting program by Canada Post. There are currently more than 20,000 community mailboxes throughout B.C. and Canada Post continues to install more in new subdivisions. The mailboxes have recently become the subject of numerous complaints of break-ins and vandalism, raising concerns about lost or stolen mail and identity theft.