As holiday festivities and shopping become forefront in
everyone’s mind, remember crime traditionally increases between Thanksgiving
and Christmas.
A vulnerable aspect of your home is the mailbox. During this
season, thieves hope to find gift cards and cash sent by friends and relatives.
My family was a victim of this crime 3 years ago. Two nights before Christmas
we were entertaining relatives. Several times during the day I had thought
about retrieving the mail from our mailbox, but kitchen duties distracted me.
At 8:30 PM the doorbell rang. Our neighbors reported seeing
a car stop and open our mailbox. They described following the car down our long
street, turning around in the cul-de-sac, back past our house, and out on the
highway. They followed the suspicious vehicle long enough to determine (A)the alleged
mail thieves didn’t want to be followed because they turned off their
headlights during the “chase” and (B) the license plate number.
We verified our mailbox had been emptied, and called the
sheriff’s department. Despite having a license number which was traced to a
resident in a neighboring county, nothing was done. The next morning, we walked
down the street and found an opened and discarded Christmas card from a nearby town.
Apparently these thieves had been trolling several neighborhoods and taking
mail.
Because of the danger of a credit card statement with a full
number on it being in the mailbox, we had to cancel that credit card.
We also reported the theft to the Postmaster General. Because
a mailbox is considered Federal property, mail theft is a federal crime under
U.S. Code of Regulations Section 1708 Title 18. A fine and/or prison sentence
up to 5 years is assigned.
Here are some tips to protect your mailbox contents:
1 - Retrieve your mail as soon as possible. If you are away all
day, arrange for someone else to get the mail.
2 - Do not mail any important mail from your mailbox. Drive
through and use the drop box at the post office.
3 - If you mail from your mailbox, do not put it in the box the night
before.
4 - If sensitive account numbers are on statements, consider
changing to e-statements.
5 - Discuss mail theft issues with relatives that might send
cash or gift cards. Electronic gift cards or personal checks are alternatives.
6 - When you travel, place a mail hold with the post office.
