Solebury police are urging residents to be cautious when sending and receiving cheques through the post after receiving multiple reports of thefts from residents’ mailboxes.
According to Solebury Township police, a reported theft resulted in a stolen check being forged to steal money from the victim using a tactic known as “check washing,” where handwritten information on the check — such as payee and amount — is removed and replaced.
In addition to searching for a flag hoist on homeowners’ mailboxes, police said surrounding law enforcement agencies have also received reports of checks being stolen from incoming mail and U.S. Postal Service curbside mailboxes.
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How to Protect Yourself from Mail Theft
To combat mail theft, the U.S. Postal Service recommends the following:
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Do not leave incoming or outgoing mail in your mailbox.
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Deposit outgoing mail in a safe place, such as your local post office or workplace. You can also hand the mail directly to a postman.
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Sign up for Informed Delivery and receive a daily email overview with a preview of your mail and packages that are due to be delivered soon.
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Get involved in your neighborhood through neighborhood watches and local social media groups to raise awareness and share information.
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Keep an eye on your mail carrier. If you see anything suspicious or if you see someone following your mail carrier, call 911.
Solebury Police made the following additional recommendations:
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If you are absent or delayed, ask a trusted person or neighbor to pick up your mail.
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Please note that checks or credit cards may be delivered promptly and please contact the sender if you believe delivery is late.
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Review your financial statements for suspicious activity and contact your bank to cancel any checks that may have been stolen.
More about mail theft and how to prevent it: What You Need to Know About the Trend of Increasing Mail Theft and What You Can Do About It
What to do if your mail is stolen
If you believe you have been a victim of mail theft, contact your local police and file a complaint with the Postal Inspection Service online at www.uspis.gov/report or by calling 877-876-2455.
Reporter Michele Haddon covers local news, small business, food and drink, economic revitalization, arts and culture for The Intelligencer and Bucks County Courier Times on PhillyBurbs.com. Consider supporting local journalism with a subscription.
This article originally appeared in Bucks County Courier Times: Reports of Outgoing Mail Theft, Check Washing Reported in Solebury
