Theft Of Mail On The Rise Again In Newtown Area, Police Urge Vigilance

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — With an increase in mail theft in neighboring communities, Newtown Township Police Chief John Hearn is urging vigilance.

According to police, criminals drive around neighborhoods looking for mailboxes with flags in the up position, an indication that mail is waiting to be picked up. When they see the arm up, they take all the mail from inside the box keeping anything that contains a check and discarding the rest.

The suspects then wash the checks, a process in which they change the amount and the name on the check and then they cash them out. Usually it will take a few weeks for victims to be notified by a company who never received their payment.

Some suggestions include paying bills online, paying bills in person, dropping payments off at the post office, avoid using stand alone mailboxes which are easily broken into, or handing the mail directly to a postal route carrier.