taking mail without permission

[R33C0]

What is the name of your state? Connecticut

I am one of three retired folks that live in a private house in Connecticut. Yesterday, I saw (from my window) a resident go into the mailbox, remove all the mail (from street mounted mailbox) and drive off in her car. I had to wait until after 6pm to get my mail from her. She never got permission from me to take my mail out of the mailbox.

Is this illegal?

 

[quincy]

What is the name of your state? Connecticut

I am one of three retired folks that live in a private house in Connecticut. Yesterday, I saw (from my window) a resident go into the mailbox, remove all the mail (from street mounted mailbox) and drive off in her car. I had to wait until after 6pm to get my mail from her. She never got permission from me to take my mail out of the mailbox.

Is this illegal?

It is not illegal for the resident to remove mail from the joint mailbox. Although she should have brought all of the mail in before taking off with it, you received your mail later the same day.

I see this only as something you need to address with your housemate. Tell her that you prefer she leave your mail in the box from now on or drop off all of the mail in the house before leaving for the day.

 

[R33C0]

thanks quincy,
"Tell her that you prefer she leave your mail in the box from now on or drop off all of the mail in the house before leaving for the day."
She is a very difficult person to get co-operation with.
If she refuses to co-operate, can I take legal action?

 

[Zigner]

thanks quincy,
"Tell her that you prefer she leave your mail in the box from now on or drop off all of the mail in the house before leaving for the day."
She is a very difficult person to get co-operation with.
If she refuses to co-operate, can I take legal action?

You got your mail, right?

 

[quincy]

thanks quincy,
"Tell her that you prefer she leave your mail in the box from now on or drop off all of the mail in the house before leaving for the day."
She is a very difficult person to get co-operation with.
If she refuses to co-operate, can I take legal action?

You have no damages so a legal action is not something worth considering.

You could attempt to beat her to the mailbox in the future - but with luck she will not take the mail on a road trip again.

 

[Zigner]

If this truly concerns you, then you may wish to consider getting a PO box and having your mail forwarded there.

 

[zddoodah]

I had to wait until after 6pm to get my mail from her.

At what time did you see her take the mail? What difference did the delay between X:00, when you otherwise would have gotten the mail, and "after 6pm," when you actually got it, make?

Is this illegal?

No, it's not illegal for one of multiple roommates to take everyone's mail from a shared mailbox and distribute it later in the day.

If she refuses to co-operate, can I take legal action?

You've got to be kidding.

If this person is such a problem that you would even consider suing her over something as trivial as this, then you either need to move or, if you have the power to do so, evict her.

 

[quincy]

What would be illegal is if the housemate intentionally opened mail not addressed to her or stole or destroyed mail not addressed to her.

 

[R33C0]

No, it's not illegal for one of multiple roommates to take everyone's mail from a shared mailbox and distribute it later in the day.

As far as I’m concerned, if someone takes something that belongs to me without my permission, they STOLE it.
If I take her keys off the kitchen table and drive her car out for a few hours without permission is that stealing or not? Please tell me its not so I can use her car and save myself some gas money.
After all, it’s a ‘shared’ household.

 

[Zigner]

As far as I’m concerned, if someone takes something that belongs to me without my permission, they STOLE it.
If I take her keys off the kitchen table and drive her car out for a few hours without permission is that stealing or not? Please tell me its not so I can use her car and save myself some gas money.
After all, it’s a ‘shared’ household.

Well, alrighty then! Delivering your mail to you a couple hours after collecting it is absolutely the same as taking a joyride in her car </sarcasm>

 

[Just Blue]

As far as I’m concerned, if someone takes something that belongs to me without my permission, they STOLE it.
If I take her keys off the kitchen table and drive her car out for a few hours without permission is that stealing or not? Please tell me its not so I can use her car and save myself some gas money.
After all, it’s a ‘shared’ household.

That is not the same. At. All.

 

[quincy]

As far as I’m concerned, if someone takes something that belongs to me without my permission, they STOLE it.
If I take her keys off the kitchen table and drive her car out for a few hours without permission is that stealing or not? Please tell me its not so I can use her car and save myself some gas money.
After all, it’s a ‘shared’ household.

I suggest you discuss the matter with your housemate first. You can get a post office box if the discussion does not lead to a satisfactory resolution. Or, if there are other issues with this housemate, start looking for another place to live.

You suffered no harm. You have no damages. You do not have a good basis for a lawsuit.

 

[R33C0]

thanks for replies.
The next time I see her do it I'll just call the police and see what they have to say.

 

[Just Blue]

thanks for replies.
The next time I see her do it I'll just call the police and see what they have to say.

They will say it's not a police matter. You should likely look for another place to live.

 

[quincy]

thanks for replies.
The next time I see her do it I'll just call the police and see what they have to say.

Okay. Remember though that she is entitled to get the mail from the shared mailbox.