Post Office in Inchelium burglarized, alarm disabled and packages torn open

The U.S. Post Office in Inchelium was burglarized last weekend.

The suspect cut phone lines and disabled the building alarms between Saturday night and Sunday morning, according to a Ferry County Sheriff’s Office news release.

“They walked into the public lobby where the PO boxes are located and gained entry to the locked post office by breaking the glass door leading to the customer service counter,” according to the news release. “The suspect opened numerous packages, forced entry into the cash drawer, and opened an unlocked safe.”

Agencies that are investigating the burglary include Colville Tribal Police, U.S. Postal Service Special Agents and Ferry County Sheriff’s deputies, the news release stated.

The stolen items are not yet determined, and anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s office (509) 775-3132.

Ferry County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for further information.

Robert Crinklaw works at the gas station next door and owns a P.O. box inside the Post Office.

“The damage is apparent on the inside,” he said. “A glass door has been busted out and it’s all boarded up now.”

He said he wasn’t sure if any of his mail was stolen.

“They probably didn’t go through any mailboxes.”

The U.S. Postal Service is offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of the suspect, according to a news release from the federal agency. The number to call is 1 (509) 624-1432.