RANCHO MURIETA, CA (MPG) - An immediate decision to reduce lobby hours at the Sloughhouse Post Office following a break-in discovered Jan. 5 has been rescinded … for now.

After a break-in involving several post office boxes was discovered Jan. 5, the acting postmaster posted a written notice advising patrons that lobby hours would be reduced. The notice stated the lobby would close at 8 p.m. and reopen at 6:15 a.m., and that additional security measures were being implemented.

However, three days later, the acting postmaster contacted the River Valley Times to say the early closure was being rescinded pending approval from headquarters. The lobby is typically locked around 11 p.m. and reopened about 6:15 a.m.

The acting postmaster said she could not provide details about the incident because it is under investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. She also declined to give her name, saying she is not authorized to speak to the press.

She urged residents to remain vigilant about checking their mail regularly. 

“We need to make the public aware that they should be picking up their mail on a daily basis, not thinking that it’s not going to happen to them,” she said.

The acting postmaster also encouraged residents to sign up for Informed Delivery through the U.S. Postal Service website. Informed Delivery is a free service that allows patrons to digitally preview their mail and track packages before they arrive at their mailbox or post office box.

Customers who experience mail theft should first report it to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and obtain a case number before reporting the incident to the post office, she said.

She also noted that many Rancho Murieta residents have security cameras. 

“If they suspect something, they should take a video clip of that and bring it to the post office and notify the sheriff’s department,” she said.

The lobby remains accessible during regular business hours, as well as after hours on weekdays, weekends and holidays.