Someone Stole Our Christmas Money

United States
December 28, 2015 12:06pm CST
My boyfriend's grandmother called about a week ago and said that she sent us some money in a Christmas card through the mail. I immediately felt uneasy about it, because sending cash in the mail is very risky. It can get lost or stolen! It should have arrived by now. She doesn't live too far away from us, only a few hours. I wonder what is going on? Did a mail sorter (or Grinch!) at the post office pocket it because he suspected it had cash? Did my mail just get lost in the Holiday craze? Or, maybe we are just being impatient and it simply hasn't arrived yet?
33 people like this
37 responses
@marlina (154166)
• Canada
28 Dec 15
Not prudent to send money in the mail, why did she do it?
4 people like this
• United States
29 Dec 15
@marlina I am not sure why she chose to send cash in the mail. By the time she had told us she was sending us money for Christmas, she had already sent it out in the mail. So, we couldn't warn her and persuade her to send it a safer way.
3 people like this
• United States
29 Dec 15
@shaifer Well, she is one who doesn't use Paypal. She is kind of old fashioned and isn't familiar with more advanced ways to send money.
• Nahariya, Israel
29 Dec 15
Why she didnt send the moeny via paypal. Its more safety.
1 person likes this
@kevin1877uk (36988)
28 Dec 15
Never send money in the post. I hope it turns up.
4 people like this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
29 Dec 15
You are so right never send cash through the mail. I also hope it turns up. @kevin1877uk
1 person likes this
@kevin1877uk (36988)
29 Dec 15
@ivyparkgirl Totally never send money in the post.
4 people like this
@TheHorse (205771)
• Walnut Creek, California
29 Dec 15
I'm guessing it's on its way. Messing with US Mail is a pretty serious Federal offense.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Dec 15
@TheHorse Will do! I plan on posting an update on this as soon as we figure out what is going on.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Dec 15
@TheHorse True, but there are some pretty stupid people out there who don't care.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (205771)
• Walnut Creek, California
29 Dec 15
@Angelee_27 Let us know if it arrives! I admit that I generally don't send cash in the mail.
@Rohvannyn (3098)
• United States
29 Dec 15
There's been a lot of delayed mail, more than usual in fact, and a lot of weather delays too. I hope it comes too.
3 people like this
@HazySue (39264)
• Gouverneur, New York
29 Dec 15
@Angelee_27 That's too bad. These days it is not wise to send cash in the mail.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (111177)
• El Paso, Texas
21 Aug 19
It was @HazySue but I did a lot of calling to the retailer I bought it from and they finally tracked it down to one of their people stealing it, I did get my money back.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (111177)
• El Paso, Texas
19 Aug 19
I never send cash but I did send a giftcard once which never made it to my friend.
1 person likes this
@HazySue (39264)
• Gouverneur, New York
21 Aug 19
@rebelann That is a shame.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
28 Dec 15
That is awful, I hope it's just slow in arriving.
2 people like this
@patgalca (18181)
• Orangeville, Ontario
29 Dec 15
With all the Christmas cards being mailed, I don't know how a thieving mail sorter would know which ones contain cash. I agree it's not safe to send cash in the mail. Why didn't your grandmother write a check? There is something else to consider. I don't know whether it's happening where you live but I know that we are not getting mail every day of the week. I think maybe 3 days a week. The government wants to stop home delivery and have everyone in the country use community mail boxes. There's been a lot of flack about that. It hasn't taken place yet but I think they cut back on mail delivery. Is it possible your mail delivery has been cut back and will take a little longer for you to receive it?
@patgalca (18181)
• Orangeville, Ontario
30 Dec 15
@Angelee_27 No, these are community mailboxes that you have to walk down to the end of your street to get your mail. This is not easy for seniors and others, especially during the winter. Townhouse complexes have these but now the government wants to make it across the board... or it may be Canada Post. We have a new government now so maybe it won't happen.
• United States
29 Dec 15
@patgalca I don't know why she chose to send it in cash form, probably because she is old-fashioned. I haven't heard about any of that here, so I am not sure. We live in an apartment complex that has a community mailbox, is that the same thing?
@snowy22315 (169965)
• United States
28 Dec 15
Sending money in the mail is a no no. It is much better to send a check or even a gift card.
1 person likes this
• Shenzhen, China
29 Dec 15
Used the mail to send cash is not safety. Maybe you can try to call the post office
• United States
29 Dec 15
@allisonwish Yes, it is very risky. We will be calling tomorrow and maybe they can help us figure out what is going on.
1 person likes this
• Shenzhen, China
30 Dec 15
@Angelee_27 Right, I hope you can get it soon.
• United States
29 Dec 15
I would give it a litle bit yet, but if it still has not arrived I'd inquire at the local postal service. I know that the mail can get routed through different places within your same state. We got a holiday card from someone who lives not a block away from us but it was routed to another county entirely before coming back to us.
1 person likes this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
29 Dec 15
I had the same thing happen and it took 6 days to get back here, go figure. @ScribbledAdnauseum
• United States
29 Dec 15
Good idea... we will definitely be contacting the our postal service soon to see if they can help find out where it is.
1 person likes this
@ricki_911 (21625)
• Toronto, Ontario
29 Dec 15
I know here they say it's your own stupidity for putting money in a card to mail it. I work for a post office, and we would get fired if caught (and I know some who have been fired). But because of the holidays a lot of mail is delayed. We get people accusing us of everything, meanwhile a few days later it comes, then they look stupid.
• United States
29 Dec 15
@ricki_911 That is why we haven't contacted the local post office yet. We are hoping it's just late. However, we will be contacting them tomorrow because my boyfriend also noticed his bank statements are not coming in the mail either. So, maybe something is wrong.
@ricki_911 (21625)
• Toronto, Ontario
29 Dec 15
@Angelee_27 Usually at least here it is back logged at least 6 weeks around Christmas time. They hoard it at the sorting plants to get overtime. We have people complaining, and it just makes our lives difficult. In the end I usually remember those who file complaints and then I will never go out of my way for them. This one did that, and accused us of stealing. She get sparcels I card them she has to drive 45 minutes to pick them up instead of me being nice to deliver them. She doesn't shovel her mail box out, or me can drive right in smoothly she doesn't get her mail. I've sent myself a parcel at Christmas and it took 5 weeks to get to me (and I sent it from my post office at Christmas).
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
28 Dec 15
If she sent it too late, it may still arrive. Before Christmas the post office can't handle all traffic as usual.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
29 Dec 15
yes htats what happened to my gift of money f rom my niece It hus came late.
1 person likes this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
29 Dec 15
@Hatley At least your gift finally showed up from your niece, even late it is still nice.
• United States
29 Dec 15
She said that she sent them all out at the same time and the others have already received theirs.
@saurabhrmp (2283)
• Hyderabad, India
29 Dec 15
is she sent money in mail or via money-order. If she sent via money-order then your money is safe and if she sent in the envelope then anything can happen.
• United States
29 Dec 15
She put cash money in a Christmas card, no money order. Yes, I know, it's very risky. We would have warned her against it, but she had already sent it out.
1 person likes this
• Hyderabad, India
30 Dec 15
@Angelee_27 ; oh, in that case, wait for some time then you can check from nearest Post office regarding the same. As money inside the card then at-least card should reach you.
• Ft. Pierce, Florida
29 Dec 15
It's the holidays. everything is gonna take forever. Did you get it by the way?
• United States
29 Dec 15
@imgettingpaid2watch Nope, its December 29th and still nothing. We are going to contact the post office tomorrow to see if they know what is going on.
1 person likes this
• Ft. Pierce, Florida
30 Dec 15
@Angelee_27 Wow. That stinks. I'm sorry to hear that. My family always sent money in the mail for birthdays and holidays (grandparents).
@Grandmaof2 (7579)
• Canada
29 Dec 15
Well I sure hope this has a happy ending. It is true that Christmas time is a very busy time of the year for postal workers. I am a grandma as well but in todays world it is far to risky and way to easy for the money to fall in the wrong hands. I do give my grandkids money too but they live in the same city as I do. It's easy these days to give money through direct transfer. Good luck and I certainly do hope grandmas money finds it's way to your house.
• United States
29 Dec 15
Thanks, but so far, still nothing. She said that if it doesn't show up by January 1st she will send us more, this time not in cash form. I just hate that she would have to do that.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
29 Dec 15
I get one hundred dollars ev edry chrism as from my husbands niece but they put it in an envelope inside the christmas card and I alw as ge it but yes its risk y,
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
29 Dec 15
oh also I do hope it is just late.
• United States
29 Dec 15
@Hatley Thanks, I too hope it's just late. I would hate for her to have to re-send more money!
@rosekiss (30380)
• Eugene, Oregon
28 Dec 15
Sending money in the mail, just isn't safe. There is always someone looking to take something that doesn't beslong to them, so when they see money, they will grab it. I used to send money, but no more. I now, send gift cards, as that is harder to steal,. I hope that you get it, as it will ease your mind, so you don't worry.
@rosekiss (30380)
• Eugene, Oregon
29 Dec 15
@Angelee_27 I do agree with you there. I can use the money as much as anyone else can too. My finances are not vdry good, so anything that I make is great, no matter how big or small.
• United States
29 Dec 15
@rosekiss Yes, it's very sad how many thieves are in this world. Why not work or something and make an honest living rather than steal from others who most likely need the money just as much if not more than you?
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (36442)
• Toccoa, Georgia
29 Dec 15
If a relative sends me money, they usually send it by check.
• United States
29 Dec 15
@LeaPea2417 That is a much safer method indeed.
@paigea (35694)
• Canada
29 Dec 15
I hope it works out and you get your money
29 Dec 15
Me too.
1 person likes this
@trivia79 (7828)
• El Segundo, California
28 Dec 15
It's okay to feel that way. That's normal! But I think it's better received it personally than deliver it knowing that you are 2 hours apart only.
• United States
28 Dec 15
It's more than 2 hours, more like 4 or 5.
1 person likes this
@trivia79 (7828)
• El Segundo, California
28 Dec 15
@Angelee_27 That's far . You should have contacted the delivery service by this time. I think next time, it is more wise to give personally the money if the person you'll be giving of is at maximum 6 hours away. Just saying