What should I do if my neighbor takes my mail out of my mailbox and keeps some of it?

Does your neighbor live alone? If so, it sounds like she's struggling, to be damaging property and taking others mail. It's actually a criminal offense, but, likely she has no intent to do anything but to get her own mail. You could get yourself a post office box, so that your mail comes there and not to your mail box. Or you might report her to adult protective services as a vulnerable adult who is in need of assistance. You can explain what's going on. If she's that bad, she likely has more issues inside the home.

If she has family time to get them involved.

Did her family ask you to get her mail? Why were you getting her mail? I understand you said that she was throwing away important mail but how did you know this and what are you doing with her mail? I'm assuming someone asked you to do this? Did the person who asked you to get her mail have the authority to ask you to do that?
This is a conundrum.
Just as it was illegal for her to take your mail, it's illegal for you to take hers. Right?
Give us more information please.

Yankee, I know you feel you are looking out for your neighbour by providing care for her, but are you really doing what is in her best interest? You have been urged several times to get her a needs assessment and to begin the process to get her into a secure environment where she can be properly cared for, why do you resist? She will continue to get worse both physically and mentally, and unless she dies tragically (and avoidably) at home she will come to a point, she is probably already there, where your oversight from next door is just not enough.

Yankee, you are such an admirable neighbor and friend, but your neighbor is no longer safe on her own. We're not bashing you!

Have you called your local AAA? Why don't you want to do that?

Hi Yankeetalker
I do remember your earlier posts now. And I'm sorry if my answer was insensitive. I was confused. I hope the locking mailbox helps. As you have probably noticed as the dementia progresses your neighbor will move from the mail to something else. My aunt was worried about identity theft for awhile and cut her name and address off of all her mail and then threw it away whether it was a pizza coupon or her bank statement. Now she is throwing her food away thinking it is spoiled.
Please come back and use the forum. Most of us mean well, even if we are a bit dense sometimes.

Ok, to the 97 yr. old mom and others that have not followed the issues that I am dealing with but would rather bash me, I will try to explain this. I am her POA, the neurologist that I have been taking her to stated that as long as she can answer the questions given to her that their hands are tied as far as putting her away and I have been taking her mail that is important and paying her bills because she hoards and misplaces things which the postal system is well aware of. I have now installed a locking mailbox and from now on, I will not be joining in discussions on here again but those who care to judge should look in a mirror. I will say that I have received good advice on here that has helped greatly but for a woman that has nobody in her life to be there for her I am just glad that she at least has me. I don’t get paid to help her nor have I ever asked. This is not a site to condemn but to try to help.

As her POA, you need to make good decisions for her best interests - that's the responsbility and expectation of being a POA: to make decisions for the best interests of the person you are caring and being responsible for their well being.  This behaviour you are describing is symptomatic of a bigger issue - serious cognitive decline. Now that she seems very confused, she probably is at risk in many other ways wouldn't you think?   As her POA, getting a comprehensive professional assessment of her function is probably the next step - and as her POA it is really your responsbility to be responsible and do what's right.  For example, if your mother was sick, and you didn't take her to the doctor - what would you think?  So, that's the priority, I would say.   You have the responsibility here to follow through.  Otherwise, you should organise to pass on POA to  someone else who will act.  With regards to taking your mail - there 's nothing you can really do about her behaviour except protect your mail from being taken out of the box. put a lock, etc.

Yankee, I understand now that you feel boxed in a corner. I'm sorry the neurologist is so unhelpful, I rather doubt the good doctor would sit back and do nothing if the shoe were on the other foot. His opinion is not holy writ and there may be others out there who will help you and her. ((hugs))

The United States Post Office has a program called Informed Delivery and it shows your mail and packages coming in the mail that day. All you need is a computer and go to the website. I love the program, it might be helpful for you.