2 Elmhurst Mailboxes Broken Into: Cops

ELMHURST, IL – Two U.S. Postal Service mailboxes in Elmhurst were broken into over the weekend, police said.

About 7 a.m. Monday, a resident noticed a mailbox's door ajar northeast of First Street and Haven Road, police said in a news release. It was apparently opened with some type of prying tool.

Police checked the other outside Postal Service mailboxes around town. They found a second mailbox with its door ajar east of Cottage Hill Avenue, between Park Avenue and Adelaide Street, police said.

Police said mail was last collected from the boxes in question about 4 p.m. Saturday. Mail placed in the boxes between then and 7 a.m. Monday may have been stolen, police said.

Over the last year, several break-ins of Postal Service mailboxes have been reported throughout the Chicago area.

Police said such break-ins are likely done by those who want to commit identity theft and check forgeries.

Anyone who placed financial documents or checks in the two mailboxes is asked to cancel the documents and place fraud alerts on their accounts with financial institutions. Residents who discover unauthorized financial charges are urged to file theft reports with the Elmhurst Police Department.

Police recommend the use of the interior lobby mail slot at the post office, instead of exterior mailboxes, for sensitive mail.

Anyone with information or video that may be helpful with the break-ins is asked to call the police at 630-530-3050.