Naperville Cops Caution About Mailbox Break-Ins, Identity Theft

NAPERVILLE, IL — A string of mailbox break-ins throughout the area have prompted Naperville police to caution residents to stay vigilant about identity theft.

In a recent public notice shared on Twitter, the Naperville Police Department wrote,

"Regionally, there have been a few recent incidents of thieves breaking into large postal mailboxes and using stolen checks to commit identity theft."

Naperville Police Commander Michaus Williams told Patch there have been nine mailbox break-ins in the city over the past two months. He said 25 people were victims of identity theft linked to the mailbox incidents.

Commander Williams said, "The Naperville Police Department recommends anyone using the mail that requires sending checks or other valuables use the mail drop locations inside the Post Offices."

This is not the first instance of check fraud linked to mail in greater DuPage County area in recent months. In late October, a mail carrier in Elmhurst was charged with stealing 117 checks that had been sent to addresses along his route. He was further accused of using those checks fraudulently.