Every year, thousands of New Yorkers take over Manhattan’s main post office to browse through the letters children have addressed to Santa, asking him to bring them their dream gifts, in order to help old Mr. Claus with his Christmas duties.

Nevertheless, it seems that this year, Operation Santa has been halted by the United States postal service, which shut down the thoughtful process at 1 p.m. Wednesday in both New York City and other major cities across the country.

And all this without any explanations given to the post offices or the people seeking to bring the Christmas joy and spirit to children.

Still, the decision seems to have been prompted by an incident reported within one of the programs, when a man whom a letter carrier recognized as a registered sex offender took a letter in order to try and fulfill the child’s that had written it wishes.

Now, the Postal Service, hinting at the fact that the halting of  Operation Santa could be only temporary, stated that taking precaution was necessary.

Initially, the service announced that the operations would only be resumed the following year, but afterwards revealed their plans to reopen the Manhattan program on Saturday.

As for the other cities, no information has been given out yet.

The programs are said to undergo some changes, with the names and addresses being set to be blacked out and the letters given a number instead, while the gift-givers will need to take their gifts to the post offices and provide the number of the letter they had chosen.