If Inver Grove Heights residents were confused about why some letters didn’t arrive this week, the police department may have discovered the answer.

According to the Inver Grove Heights Police Department (IGHPD), an officer stopped a vehicle shortly after midnight Thursday for having a malfunctioning headlight.

During the stop, the officer observed a large amount of mail inside the driver’s vehicle.

While questioning her, police say 34-year-old Kanesha Anderson admitted to stealing mail from nearby mailboxes and that she was on her way to Minneapolis, despite being found by the officer on a street bottomless.

Anderson was arrested and taken to the Dakota County Jail. Court records show she was formally charged with two counts of mail theft, and her first appearance in the case was scheduled to begin Friday at 1 p.m.

A criminal complaint says Anderson also told police during the traffic stop that he had used meth about two hours earlier, and while he admitted to having needles, he denied having drugs at the time of the stop.

Officers sorted through the recovered mail, reporting that more than 500 pieces were recovered, with 161 victims identified by police.

The department says its officers have returned the mail to the post office to be redistributed to their rightful owners, and all victims will be notified if they were affected.

Residents in the Concord Boulevard and 78th Avenue area who have not received expected mail should check in with the post office.

To protect yourself from mail theft, the IGHPD recommends following these tips:

1. Get your email back as soon as possible
2. Use a locking mailbox
3. Sign up for USPS Informed Delivery
4. Shred sensitive documents before disposal
5. Track packages
6. Report suspicious activity
7. Monitor your bank statements

Stolen mail recovered by Inver Grove Heights Police Department. Credit: Inver Grove Heights Police