Barrington Post Office takes precautions after keys stolen

Post office officials said they've taken the appropriate safety precautions after burglars broke into a car last week and took a ring of keys belonging to the Barrington Post Office.

The burglary happened between Aug. 16 and 17 on the 700 block of Buckingham Court in Hoffman Estates, police said. About 30 keys from inside a red purse, as well as a GPS unit, were taken from a 2008 Nissan Sentra. Police said the total cost of the crime was $300.

Because of security concerns, U.S. Postal Inspection Service spokeswoman Stephanie Sexton wouldn't say exactly what the keys were for, or specify if they open the doors of the post office at 1515 S. Grove Ave., customer post office boxes or something else.

However, she said the post office has notified the affected parties, adding that included postal service customers.

"Immediate steps were taken," Sexton said.

Neither she nor police could say if the car was targeted because of the post office keys or if the victim of the theft is a postal service employee.