Danvers Residents Report Mailbox 'Fishing' Attempts: Police

DANVERS, MA —Danvers police are warning residents to be careful when mailing checks and money orders after reports of a "fishing" and forging scheme in town.

The fraud includes thieves using a sticky substance on a string to fish out letters from a standalone mailbox. When checks are retrieved they are then washed, altered and cashed.

The mailbox thefts have become increasingly common throughout the state in the past year.

Police advise residents mailing checks and money orders to use mailboxes located inside the U.S. Post Office.