It took just seconds. Then he was gone, leaving behind broken, empty mailboxes and concern by those left without their valuable mail.
Among them was one man who doesn't want his name shared in fear of possible identity theft.
"Started from this end of the block and come all the way down," he said. "I think they're looking for gift cards. I think they're looking for credit cards, but it's tax season. You got to mail all 10-99s, all of the tax documents, so now we have all of our personal information exposed."
He is one of the many people whose mailboxes, investigators said, were targeted on at least four city blocks in Lincoln Park and the Near North Side. The crime spree has been happening since late November.
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ABC7 obtained new surveillance video and images of the suspect after the United States Postal Inspection Service released a reward poster.
The agency is offering up to $100,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction. That reward has been giving hope to victims that the person behind the thefts will be found and the case will be sealed shut.
"He thinks he can get away with it, and so far, he has, and I just think sooner or later we can catch him, but we need the whole community to help with this," one victim said.
If you see the suspect, investigators urge you to call police or the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
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