Police report: More than $58K in rent checks stolen from Sunshine Corporation drop box

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — One day after a FOX13 investigation uncovered a dozen missing rent checks from tenants of two Memphis apartment complexes, the president of the company that collects the money insisted they were stolen.

“I can confirm that Sunshine Corporation’s drop box was broken into on Sunday, August 7th,” wrote Jay Curtis, the president of the company. “The Company has implemented additional security measures to try and prevent this from happening again.”

On Monday, FOX13 interviewed four people who claimed their rent checks were never cashed. Sunshine Corporation informed the tenants that they would have to pay August rent again and a late fee. Many were told to cancel their money orders but learned that it could take up to a month to be refunded.

“I work very hard for my money, and I don’t have extra money to give like that,” a resident of Riverdale Apartments told FOX13 on Monday.

As of 5 p.m. on Wednesday, 16 more tenants had reached out to FOX13 worried that they would be evicted because their rent checks were lost or stolen.

“I’m really shocked and kind of confused,” said a woman who lives at Edgewater Apartments. “I was really angry.”

FOX13 also obtained a police report filed by Sunshine Corporation. In the document, officers learned that at least 72 tenants had their rent checks stolen, valued at $58,160.

“It appeared a pry bar was used to bend part of the drop box,” the officer wrote. “Officers were advised that the drop box door fame is damaged at the bottom.”

According to the documents, Sunshine Corporation collects for five different apartment complexes: Woodchase Apartments, Edgewater Apartments, Ridgeway Terrace Apartments, the Glen Townhomes and Riverdale Apartments.

“We are working diligently with each impacted resident to ensure a satisfactory resolution based on each individual tenant’s specific circumstance,” Curtis wrote.

Curtis would not elaborate on what security measures the company would take or if the dozens of tenants affected could face eviction.

“Sunshine is proud to have successfully been in the Memphis residential property management business for over 30 years,” Curtis wrote. He added, “Given this is an ongoing police investigation, we have been advised to have no further comment to not impede their investigation.”