43-year-old arrested on theft charges after mail taken from River Road mailbox

Eugene, OR – A woman was arrested in Eugene following a reported mail theft incident in the River Road area, according to the Eugene Police Department.

Police said the incident occurred at approximately 11:15 p.m. on May 3 in the 1400 block of River Road, when a caller reported seeing a woman taking mail from a residential mailbox.

Officers responded to the area and located the suspect nearby at 895 River Road. She was identified as 43-year-old Amber Michelle Reed.

According to the police report, Reed had been seen pushing a shopping cart along River Road before stopping at a residence and taking mail from the mailbox. A bystander confronted her during the incident, but she allegedly shouted at him and walked away from the area.

After officers contacted Reed, they discovered she had outstanding warrants. She was taken into custody and transported to Lane County Jail. She was arrested on the warrants as well as a charge of Theft of Mail.

Police confirmed that the stolen mail was recovered and returned to the homeowner.

Following the arrest, the Eugene Police Department included safety guidance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, reminding residents to take precautions to reduce the risk of mail theft.

Recommendations included collecting mail promptly after delivery, arranging for trusted neighbors to retrieve mail during absences, placing mail holds when traveling, and reporting suspicious activity immediately to law enforcement or postal inspectors. Officials also encouraged residents to consider neighborhood watch participation as an added layer of prevention.

Police said mail theft remains a recurring issue in residential areas and emphasized that quick reporting plays a key role in recovering stolen property and identifying suspects.

Residents are encouraged to report in-progress incidents immediately to 911 and provide any surveillance footage or information through non-emergency police channels.