ROCKWALL, TX – Dec. 18, 2020 – With Christmas just a week away, porch pirates are out in full force – dashing through neighborhoods swiping packages from doorsteps. But as brazen as they may seem, these parcel pilferers don’t hold a candle to the Grinch-like bandit who recently stole countless letters addressed to Santa from a Rockwall neighborhood. In fact, the malevolent mail thief made off with the entire mailbox.
Stone Creek Estates resident Kate Wilke was on vacation when the festive, bright red letter box she purchased from the Mint Julep was from stolen from her front yard. She had placed it on her sidewalk and encouraged community members to drop children’s letters destined for the North Pole.
“Ironically, I put it there because I thought someone might steal it at our clubhouse,” Kate said.
She turned to social media for clues as to the missing mailbox’s whereabouts.
Neighbors responded that they had seen the mailbox for sale on Rockwall Exchange, a local buy-sell-trade Facebook group. One neighbor messaged the seller to say she wasn’t sure how the seller came in possession of it, but it belonged to Stone Creek and they needed it back. The Mint Julep was also alerted, and they contacted the seller regarding a different item she had for sale; they showed up at the seller’s address and got it back. All within 24 hours.
“In between, I called the police. The police officer said I could press charges, but I just wanted the letters back,” Kate said. “The mailbox would be a bonus.”
Unfortunately, the original letters were never found – but Santa’s mailbox is now back and chained to a bench at the Stone Creek Estates Clubhouse, 475 Featherstone, where it will remain under the watchful eyes of neighborhood elves through Monday, Dec. 21 – allowing time for any new letters to reach the Claus residence before Christmas.
By Dawn Redig, Blue Ribbon News. Photos by Kate Wilke.
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