Neighborhood Warns of Mail Thefts in Vienna Area

A Vienna-area neighborhood is warning its residents that someone might be stealing mail from mail boxes, and they’ve also released a photo captured from a security camera of the possible car used in the alleged thefts.

Here’s some of what the Oakton Glen Homeowners Association had to say about the alleged thefts:

“On Friday, April 17, 2015, just before and around 11:30 a.m., there were confirmed thefts of outgoing mail from mailboxes on Glencroft Road and Oakledge Court and an unconfirmed incident on Oakton Glen Drive.

The incident on Glencroft was observed by a homeowner’s family member from inside the house. An out-going piece of mail, with a check and personal information contained, was stolen by 2 or 3 individuals in a bright red car. (A neighbor’s security camera caught the vehicle on tape.) The car was observed slowing, then driving on the wrong side of the road and then an individual grabbed the mail and the vehicle accelerated away.

Although not observed by anyone, mail did disappear from the other locations prior to U.S. Postal Service pick-up and at least one was confirmed as having personal checks inside as well. The common link was that these homeowners’ had put their mail flag in the “up” position (signaling pick-up) and it seems the thieves used this as their cue for which mailboxes to “hit.”

Police reports have been filed and all banks have been contacted. Anyone having information about additional thefts or observations of the perpetrators should contact Officer Jacobson at rlelit@fairfaxcounty.gov or 703-591-0966 ext. 5062. You may reference police report #20151070144 so that they can link the locations of additional thefts.

IF ANYONE HAS ANY SECURITY CAMERA VIDEOTAPE between 11 a.m. and 12 noon on Friday, April 17, the police would like to review the images from it. Although we have an image of the vehicle, the hope is that they can obtain a license plate ID from more images.

FINALLY, it is recommended that you follow-up on any mail you had outgoing from your mailbox. Check with payees or recipients [to be sure] they received it. If not, your mailings may also have been stolen and you should take appropriate measures to stop checks, etc. that may have been contained therein.”