Fremont Police Warn Of Uptick In Mail Theft

FREMONT, CA — The Fremont Police Department on Tuesday announced it is logging an increase in mail-theft cases from throughout the city.

Described by police as a "crime of opportunity," mail theft involves individuals looking for such items of "value" as economic impact (stimulus) payments, checks, EDD/unemployment documents and bank and credit card information.

"Your personal information is also valuable and can be used to commit identity theft and fraud crimes," the department said.

So how can you deter these thefts and protect your mail? Police offer the following tips:

• Promptly pick up mail: Pick up mail from your mailbox as soon as possible after delivery, especially if you are expecting to receive a check or merchandise. Do not leave your mail unattended overnight. Make checking your mailbox part of your daily routine.
• Sign up for informed delivery at USPS: https://informeddelivery.usps.com/.../intro/start.action
• Get a locking mailbox: Replace your mailbox with one that has a locking device. It won’t always stop mail theft, but it makes it harder for the thieves who might just go to the next (unlocked) mailbox.
• Do not send cash or sensitive information through the mail. Do not leave outgoing mail with checks or money orders in your personal mailbox for pick-up by the mail carrier. Hand outgoing mail to the carrier or take your mail to a postal collection box or to the Post Office.
• Inquire about any overdue mail: If you do not receive a check, credit card or other valuable mail you’re expecting, contact the sender as soon as possible to inquire about it.
• Alert the post office if you are going out of town. The U.S. Postal Service can hold your mail at no charge if you’ll be traveling.
• Track your shipments so that you know what day they should arrive. If you can’t pick up your mail or have a package scheduled for delivery, ask a trusted friend or neighbor to pick it up for you. Request a signature-delivery option if available, or request the shipment be held at the shipping facility or post office.
• If you do not receive your shipment on time, check with the company of origin and confirm the delivery. Often when drivers deliver packages, they leave them sitting on the front porch. Thieves will drive around neighborhoods looking for boxes on porches to steal.
• If your item was delivered and you did not receive it, report the theft or loss to the original company, the shipping company ... and the Fremont Police Department at http://fremontpolice.gov/mailtheft

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