BEAUMONT, Texas — A Beaumont woman is raising awareness after a doorbell camera caught strangers rummaging though her mailbox.
Linda Pete Gilmore said the incidents have been going on for weeks and even has video of it happening. Gilmore said the last time someone went through her mailbox was Monday.
“My phone beeps again and I saw this homeless lady that was going through my mailbox,” Gilmore said. “She passed it and went back and opened it while she was fumbling all in it.”
The homeowner believes a group of people who are experiencing homelessness and stay at an empty lot next to her home on Long Avenue are responsible.
Gilmore has taken notes of every encounter she has had with the group and has reported it to the Beaumont Police Department. She wants authorities to do something before she has to take matters into her own hands.
“That's why I need someone to do something about these homeless people here, because I don't want to have to kill one of those people who are vandalizing what I work hard for,” Gilmore said.
David Starnes is a legal expert. He said those caught tampering with others mail can face serious consequences.
“The federal government is very serious about mail fraud, mail tampering, obstruction or mail theft,” Starnes said. “Any of those are going to be federal crimes and taken very seriously."
Those caught committing certain crimes, such as mail fraud, mail tampering and mail theft, can face up to five years in jail and $250,000 fine.
Victims of those crimes are encouraged to report it to the US attorney.
“Would be well advised to file her charges at the US Attorneys Office and file her complaints and charges there, so they can investigate it,” Starnes said.
Gilmore said she will likely put Starnes advice to use.
12News reached out to the United States Postal Service for comment and did not hear back in time for this publication.
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