Checks Stolen From Mailboxes In New Canaan: Police

NEW CANAAN, CT — Police urge residents to take precautions to prevent mail thefts after checks were stolen from mailboxes in town.

In a news release, Chief of Police Leon Krolikowski said officers recently investigated reports of personal checks stolen from mailboxes at homes on Ferris Hill Road and West Road.

The checks were then "washed" and made payable to people who were not the intended payee, Krolikowski said.

Krolikowski provided the following tips to help residents prevent these thefts:

• BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR: Get to know your neighbors, watch out for them, and report suspicious activity in your neighborhood immediately.
• CHECK YOUR MAIL OFTEN AND AVOID LEAVING MAIL IN YOUR RESIDENTIAL MAILBOX: Avoid leaving mail in your unsecure residential mailbox. Bring sensitive outgoing mail to the post office rather than leaving mail in your residential mailbox for pick-up.
• CONSIDER GETTING A LOCKING RESIDENTIAL MAILBOX: There are many residential mailbox options that allow mail to be delivered, but requires a key to retrieve the mail.
• REPORT MAIL THEFT TO OUR DEPARTMENT AND TO THE USPS at: https://www.uspis.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/MailTheftLink.html.
• REQUEST A VACATION HOLD EVEN IF YOU ARE ONLY AWAY FOR A FEW DAYS: More at: https://faq.usps.com/s/article/USPS-Hold-Mail-The-Basics.
• SIGN UP FOR INFORMED DELIVERY SO THAT YOU WILL KNOW WHEN SENSITIVE MAIL WILL ARRIVE. More at: https://informeddelivery.usps.com/box/pages/intro/start.action.