Greenwich Sees Increase In Stolen Checks From Mailboxes: Police

GREENWICH, CT — According to the Greenwich Police Department, the town has seen increased reports of stolen checks from mailboxes.

The stolen checks are washed with ink-removing chemicals and rewritten to a new payee for large amounts of money, police said in a Facebook post Tuesday.

"The Greenwich Police Department is working with the US Postal Inspectors and other area police departments to share information to disrupt, identify and arrest the perpetrators stealing mail," the department added.

The GPD offered up the following tips to safeguard against this criminal activity:

• Pick up your mail promptly after delivery. Do not leave mail in your mailbox overnight. Ask a trusted friend or neighbor to pick up your mail if you are expecting checks, credit cards, or other negotiable items.
• Please contact the issuing agency immediately if you are expecting and do not receive a check or other valuable mail.
• Bank online. If possible, please refrain from mailing checks, cash, gift cards, or other negotiable items. Check with your bank's online services, as most offer secure and easy-to-use phone apps.
• If you must send a check in the mail, use a gel pen to write checks, as ballpoint pen ink can be easily washed off a check.
• Monitor bank activity online and review bank statements as soon as they are received to check for discrepancies
• Drop off mail at the post office. Take mail containing checks directly to the post office counter to be mailed and record the names of the postal employees who take the check in case an issue arises later.
• Use plain white envelopes to mail checks. Please don't use return envelopes with the utility logo or municipality for tax payments. These tend to be easy targets for thieves.
• Do not send cash in the mail.
• Tell your post office when you will be out of town so they can hold your mail until you return.
• Lastly, if you see something, say something. Be sure to call 911 if suspicious activity is near any mailbox.