RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - During the July 15 Rancho Cordova City Council meeting, Rancho Cordova Police Chief Matthew Tamayo discussed mail theft and his department’s efforts to combat this community concern.

Tamayo highlighted the national surge in mail theft incidents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Prior to COVID-19 in 2019, there were approximately 100,000 reported incidents of mail theft nationwide," Tamayo said. "However, in 2020, this number more than doubled to 250,000.”

Addressing the responsibilities surrounding mail theft, Tamayo clarified the procedures for residents encountering such incidents.

"If residents notice their mail has been stolen without any other damage, we refer them to the United States Postal Service (USPS)," he said. "For crimes in progress, immediate contact with 9-1-1 ensures a prompt response from law enforcement."

The meeting also emphasized best practices for preventing mail theft, including daily mail retrieval, refraining from leaving outgoing mail unattended, and utilizing USPS Hold Mail services during extended absences.

Tamayo stressed the importance of community vigilance and reporting suspicious activities.

"In recent operations, the RCPD (Rancho Cordova Police Department), in collaboration with federal authorities, made notable arrests related to mail theft," Tamayo said. "For instance, a primary perpetrator responsible for multiple mail thefts in Anatolia, Folsom and surrounding areas was apprehended on federal charges, resulting in a substantial decrease in community mailbox thefts thereafter."

Councilmember Linda Budge advocated for enhanced lighting around mailboxes to deter criminal activity.

"Better-lit mailboxes would reduce the attractiveness of these crimes," Tamayo agreed, noting that mail theft typically occurs under the cover of darkness, making lighting a practical deterrent.

Councilmember Donald Terry suggested alternatives to traditional mail for sensitive communications.

"To mitigate risks, consider opting for electronic statements over paper mail for important documents," Terry said.

The Rancho Cordova City Council also addressed updates on illegal firework enforcement and updated ordinances aimed at prevention.

Russell Ducharme, Neighborhood Service manager, provided a detailed report on the city’s efforts over the July 4th weekend to curb illegal fireworks activity. Despite challenges posed by adverse weather conditions, Ducharme highlighted the effectiveness of enhanced surveillance methods, stating, "It was extremely warm, which limited flight time for our drone teams, but we were still able to monitor and assess the situation across our city."

The city amplified its enforcement strategy this year, increasing drone teams from two to three and introducing the Rancho Connect app for residents to report illicit fireworks.

"We received a total of 111 calls for service related to illegal fireworks, with 48 calls originating from the Rancho Cordova Connect app,” Code Enforcement supervisor Brittany Mariscal said. “Additionally, 75 properties were identified for administrative citation."

In response to the issue, City Council adopted new ordinance measures, including a $1,000 fine for first time violations and escalated fines for repeat offenders.

"Administrative citations are being issued this week for in-person violations, totaling approximately 25, with drone violation notices set to follow next week, covering about 50 incidents," Mariscal said.

Council members expressed optimism about the impact of these measures, noting an 80% reduction in complaints.

Councilmember Garrett Gatewood inquired on behalf of Planning manager Darcy Goulart on the correlation between the decrease in calls and the new ordinances, prompting a discussion on contributing factors.

"The ordinance certainly played a role, coupled with adverse weather and the timing of the holiday. It's encouraging to see fewer complaints, suggesting our efforts are yielding results," Terry said.

Looking forward, Budge expressed interest in mapping the geographic distribution of complaints, suggesting, "Understanding where calls originate will provide valuable insights into hotspot areas."