Seaside Package Thieves Get A Horrifying Surprise When They Open Their Stolen Goods

Now that tax season is upon us, mail thieves are desperately hoping to get to your refund before you do.

Seaside, California authorities even admitted that there’s typically an uptick in mail theft around this time, right after the holidays.

That’s why residents are being warned to stay cautious when it comes to ordering packages in the mail.

But one entomologist never in a million years expected her package would get stolen…after ordering 500 cockroaches.

Marina resident Rosalinda Vizina told KRON4 that she’s an entomologist, so she ordered hundreds of live cockroaches for a study.

“One of these boxes had been left open,” she said. “It looked like it was pried open. And all the mail was gone. So, the post office was telling us about the mailbox thieves that have been happening all the way down the street.”

While the thieves were likely hoping to walk away with a nice package, a W-2 form, or a huge tax refund, Vizina is glad they left with a gift they almost certainly didn’t want.

“I feel bad for the roaches in case they got smushed or tossed or something like that,” Vizina said. “For the thieves, I hope they went everywhere.”

As for advice from the post office, officials say that if you’re expecting something very valuable, just pick it up from the office, or make sure you’re home when the order arrives.

“Been checking my mail quite frequently with all the tax forms coming out, all that private information,” Vizina said. “I really don’t want that take in the meantime.”

After this story was shared on Facebook, a few commenters actually blamed the post office for the incident.

Jenni Yates wrote: “I blame the post office and their workers for most of the problems. They are required by policy to ring the bell, no matter what. Instead they drop the boxes off and because "they hear people talking" they don't bother to ring the door bell or knock. I know many people who leave the tv on for their pets during the day. I've had them drop off boxes that have hundreds of dollars worth of items in them and not bother to ring the bell.”

Others were just glad the thieves got exactly what they deserved in the end.

“I wish there was like a type of chip on everything we order on line that only the person who ordered it knew the password to it , when we receive it we can put it in and that could be the way of confirming it. And so they could track the item it would be cool so they could know where that package was if someone stole it but any ways that cockroaches thing was a great idea, they took a big on,” Karina López Franco commented.

Nancy Sangiacomo also wrote: “I would love to know who took them and where it was opened up at..car house? Lol...the joke is on them..”