There are far more incidents of community mailbox vandalism, break-ins and tampering in British Columbia than previously revealed or admit to by Canada Post.

Documents obtained by CBC News through a freedom of information request show that Canada Post has recorded more than 4,800 incidents involving community mailboxes, ranging from vandalism and arson to mail theft.

The incidents were recorded in more than 130 communities across BC between 2008 and 2013.

The community mailboxes, also known as super-boxes, have replaced home delivery in many Canadian communities as part of a cost-cutting program by Canada Post.

There are currently more than 20,000 community mailboxes in Canada and more go in daily in new subdivisions.

The mailboxes have recently become the subject of numerous complaints of break-ins and vandalism, raising concerns about lost or stolen mail and identity theft.

Surrey resident Craig Findlay, 60, said his community mailbox has been plagued by “non-stop break-ins” over the past decade, often in broad daylight.

‘The best thing we can recommend to our customers is never to leave mail overnight, because that’s where generally most of these incidents occur.’

—Canada Post spokeswoman Anick Losier

There have been at least 375 reported incidents of mailbox tampering in Belcarra and surrounding municipalities in the past five years.

Residents are rarely informed when their mail has been compromised, putting more than their personal information at risk.

Number of incidents ‘incredibly low’

Canada Post spokeswoman Anick Losier said community mailboxes are “very secure” and that the number of incidents is “still incredibly low.”

“We do have different strategies that we adopt, whether it’s new equipment that we’re trying — anti-pry kits, new locks — these are all things that we are trying to do in order to deter the efforts,” said Losier.

“Whenever we try these new strategies, some of the criminal activities will move to another neighbourhood.

“What we have to do is constantly work with local authorities, constantly work at our processes in terms of ensuring the moment that these incidents are reported.

“We do have a team that is dispatched right away to look at these boxes, retrieve any leftover mail, look at if the box has been pried open.

“The best thing we can recommend to our customers is never to leave mail overnight, because that’s where generally most of these incidents occur.”