Check Stolen From Mail, Altered, Cashed For $5K: Fairfield Police

FAIRFIELD, CT — A $29 check was stolen from a Fairfield resident’s mail, altered and cashed for more than $5,000, according to police.

Authorities were notified of the crime Thursday, although the check was placed Nov. 17 in a mailbox on Hollow Tree Circle, police said.

Law enforcement announced in December they were looking into numerous cases of mail theft and check fraud in town, after receiving at least six reports of mail stolen from boxes overnight since September.

The Fairfield Police Department and U.S. Postal Inspection Service recommend residents follow the tips below to prevent mail theft:

• Deposit outgoing mail at the local post office or hand it to a uniformed letter carrier.
• Avoid putting outgoing mail into mailboxes overnight. The raised flag signals to a thief that there is outgoing mail in the box.
• Deposit outgoing mail in a blue postal service mailbox prior to the last pickup time of the day.
• If you do not receive a check, credit card or other valuable mail you're expecting, contact the sender as soon as possible. Never send cash through the mail.
• When mailing something important, consider requesting signature confirmation.
• Do not leave mail or packages next to a mailbox if it is full, or if your package does not fit.

Anyone who believes they may have had mail stolen is encouraged to contact police at 203-254-4800.