Editor's note: Contact7 seeks out audience tips and feedback to help people in need, resolve problems and hold the powerful accountable. If you know of a community need our call center could address, or have a story idea for our investigative team to pursue, please email us at contact7@thedenverchannel.com or call (720) 462-7777. Find more Contact7 stories here.
AURORA, Colo. -- Gladys Hodges, 86, knows how important it is to stay inside, but she says the only way to get her mail is to go to the post office in-person.
Hodges lives in an Aurora senior community called Heather Gardens. She explains that the mailroom is on the first floor of her building, but hasn't received any mail since March 13.
She sent Contact7 a picture of a notice that was posted near the mailboxes. The letter told residents to pickup their mail at a nearby post office due to recent break-ins and thefts.
Hodges has reluctantly left her home several times to get her mail.
"I’ve gone twice. The people here are being very, very faithful about observing the stay home (order) but this is forcing people to go to the Post Office where they’re exposed to people from the community, from the neighborhoods all around," said Hodges.
Contact7 reached out to the United States Postal Service and within hours, the mailbox was repaired.
"Mailboxes are protected by federal law, and crimes against them and the mail they contain are considered a federal offense. Violators can be fined up to $250,000 or imprisoned for up to three years for each act of vandalism," said James Boxrud, spokesperson for the United States Postal Service.
