Apartment living and disappearing mail - what to do what to do?

[smithjcsdfw]

This is rather straight forward answer.  It is a Federal Offense to tamper with United States Mail.  If you believe your mail is being tampered with in any way shape or form you file a complaint with the Postmaster of your local Post Office who will in turn forward your complaint to the local Post Office District Investigators who will assign a number and begin an investigation.   They maybe slow but sooner or later they will get around to your case and they will perform a thorugh investigation and whatever they find they will let you know.

[sherryinutah]

Nowadays, I think it's reasonable to want a secured mailbox.  You have options.  As someone suggested you can ask that the PO hold your mail until you come in to pick it up.  They do that all the time for people who are on vacation.  If you can't get into the PO until after it's closed you can rent a PO box.

Good luck.  I like having a place where I can unlock a box for my mail and packages.  

[minervaspirit]

Haven't had a problem with mail delivery here (aside from ocassional mixups) BUT the dumpster issue is another matter.  We rented one last year for a few days because there was all kinds of junk in the garage to get rid of. It was parked in front of the house and was just a little too convenient for passersby to get rid of their apcray.  Man that was annoying! I'm sure if someone would have knocked on the door and asked would we mind if they dumped something we would have said yes. 
I always tend to be a polyanna about people but some are just plain inconsiderate and have no respect for another's property. 

[msmoneybags48]

I remember that I had a Social Security card disappear; my solution was to rent a locked box and it cured the problem of my mail disappearing.

[ancmetro]

   
        I know what you mean! Neither I like: Apartment living or stolen mail.

[CharmedPhoenix]

I've lived in single-family dwellings most of my life, but a year and a half ago I landed in this apartment.  I keep a PO box to begin with, and the boxes here are accessed only by key so none of my mail gets stolen.  My carrier leaves something to be desired sometimes.  I wonder what genius decided to make the number one box the outgoing instead of one of the higher number boxes, causing the carrier to get mail in the wrong boxes sometimes.      It's a pain to run to the PO, especially now since my trike got stolen, from in front of my home office window, but it's secure and safer than giving out my address.  I hate sharing walls and being "on display" every time I come out my front door.  I'd also like to know who is messing with the decorative fence I put out front and why.     I'll be glad when I can move back to something more private.

[sak4kat]

Thank everyone.  The key suggestion is a great one.  And going through the landlord first is what  I will do.  I know he's tried dealing with things before but it seems to go in one ear and out the other with the renters and surrounding neighbors.  Our mail lady comes anywhere from 10:30 to as late as 3:00 so waiting on her isn't very practical in our case.