200 Pound Postal Mailboxes Being Stolen
July 14, 2011 – 3:45 pmRecent mailbox thefts has put postal authorities on high alert and raised concern that customers may be vulnerable to identity theft. These recent thefts have prompted a Federal investigation.
The stolen mailboxes weigh around 200 pounds and were bolted into concrete. There was no way to know who could be vulnerable to identity theft, U.S. Postal Inspector Renee Focht told the Glendale News-Press.
Focht advised concerned postal customers to check their credit reports and contact their banks.
The four mailboxes were taken in less than a week at several San Fernando Valley post offices, including ones in Pacoima, Glendale and Burbank.
Local law enforcement agencies would not comment on mailbox thefts because postal-related crimes are investigated by federal authorities.
To avoid being victims of identity theft, the Los Angeles Police Department advises residents to have new checkbooks sent to a post office box or arrange to pick them up at their bank.
Authorities also advise residents to pay bills with an electronic bill payment service. And envelopes containing payments should also be mailed inside a post office, rather than at a neighborhood mailbox.
The agency has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
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Tags: Postal, Postal Mailboxes