A "significant theft" from mail boxes at Bear Gulch Road and Skyline Boulevard (state route 35) in Woodside occurred from Wednesday afternoon to Thursday morning, the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office reported Thursday night.

"Numerous mailboxes were forced open with pry tools and locks were cut with bolt cutters," sheriff's deputy Owen Yoch said in an alert issued at 9:10 p.m. Thursday. The thefts occurred between 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3, and 8 a.m. the next day, he said.

Mail theft is often connected to check, credit card and identity theft, he said. A U.S. postal inspector is working with the Sheriff's Office to investigate these thefts. Mail theft is a federal offense punishable by a long term in federal prison, Deputy Yoch said.

He advises those who see suspicious vehicles or situations to call the Sheriff's Office at (650) 363-4911 with a full description of the people and vehicles, including license plate numbers. Don't try to apprehend the suspects, he said.