A Grinch stole a super mailbox at North Muskoka River Road and Stephenson Road 2 East and ruined Christmas!

A resident said the mailbox “was smashed and robbed on Christmas Eve.”

Canada Post is contacting customers and holding mail at Huntsville’s 2 Main St. W. post office until the mailbox is replaced.

It is not clear when replacement mailbox will be in.

Customers must provide a valid government-issued photo identification when picking up their mail.

“Rural mail box thefts are increasing and the boxes don’t appear secure enough to resist smash and mail grab,” said the reader.

OPP communications officer Jeffrey Handsor said they have no reports of thefts from Canada Post boxes in the month of December. But, he also pointed out this doesn’t mean theft and mischief didn’t happen.

Handsor explained that this crime can often go unreported.

Canada Post spokesperson Valérie Chartrand confirmed the mailbox was vandalized.

“Our Security and Investigation team is aware of this incident,” she wrote in an email to this newspaper. “As this incident is being investigated, it would be inappropriate to comment further or provide details … We take these matters and the security of the mail very seriously. We don’t divulge specific security measures or broader information related to our equipment publicly as doing so would hamper their effectiveness.”

Repairs would begin “as soon as possible” and confirmed affected customers can temporarily pick up their mail at the Huntsville post office Mondays to Fridays between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Canada Post asks customers who believe they have not received a specific piece of mail to contact the sender.

Customers concerned about identity fraud should contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at: 1-888-495-8501. Anyone who witnesses any suspicious activity is advised to immediately inform the authorities and call Canada Post Customer Service at 1-866-607-6301.

This article was originally sourced by www.muskokaregion.com.