With Mail Theft On The Rise, Newtown Police Urge Caution

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — With the holiday mailing season in full swing, the Newtown Township Police Department is again encouraging resident not to use the blue free-standing mail collection boxes outside the post office on Terry Drive.

“Due to ongoing thefts, we are encouraging residents not to drop mail in the blue free-standing mailboxes until the U.S. Postal Service implements security modifications to these boxes,” said police in a social media posting.

“There are mail boxes located inside the post office which we recommend using until these security modifications are put in place,” they wrote.

In recent months, police have reported an increase in the amount of mail being stolen.

Stolen mail provides criminals with personal information (name, bank info, credit card info, etc.) that can be used for various fraudulent activities including: identity theft, loan fraud, and bank fraud. Mail thieves alter stolen checks by using ink-removing chemicals to make the check blank, thus allowing the check to be forged. This process is called "washing" checks.

Residents using the outside mail collection boxes are encouraged to monitor their banking statements for any fraudulent activity as criminals have been known to forge personal or business checks that they are able to obtain from these mail boxes.

Any suspicious or fraudulent activity should be reported to police or the United States Postal Inspection Service.

Here are a few suggestions to protect your mail:

• Do not deposit mail into mailboxes after it's been collected for the day.
• Use the letter slots inside your Post Office for your mail, or hand deliver it to a letter carrier.
• Bank online. Refrain from mailing checks or other negotiable items if possible.
• If you must send a check in the mail, use a gel pen to write checks; ballpoint pen ink can be easily washed off a check.
• Use plain white envelopes with company names, these tend to be easy targets.
• Refrain from sending cash or sensitive information in mail if possible.
• Monitor bank activity online and review bank statements.