STOCKTON, CA - It all started when Juan Pineda was a victim of mail theft.
Valuable checks were lost in that theft, but Juan may have the last profitable laugh.
He's invented a device that sets off an alarm if a mailbox is tampered with. (See his website here.) He got a patent for his product and is seeking a manufacturer to handle the production and marketing.
"I'm very excited. I hope one day, I can say I contributed to a good cause", said Pineda.
It operates much like a car alarm that begins ringing when a car is bumped. A remote turns off that alarm. A card slider, like the ones used in store checkout lines, would allow a mailman to de-activate the alarm.
"Everyone works hard for a living. They should have peace of mind in regards to their mailbox", said Pineda.
News10/KXTV