Mail, Identities Stolen in Feb 2012

Alright, here it is: a list of the mail-identity theft news stories across the nation for the past month. There are over 80 of them, and these are just the incidents being picked up by news agencies! So, we’re going to pass on summarizing these articles for you, but feel free to click through and have a look-see. You will notice some trends:

If you have an unlocked mailbox, you’re vulnerable to identity theft. If you send checks in the mail, someone is going to steal them eventually. If meth is a problem in your area, mail theft is too. To protect yourself, use a locking mailbox!

Feb. 1, 2012

  • St. George, UTAH: The SpectrumFight to prevent ID theft
  • Milford, CONNECTICUT: UnionLeader.com Stolen and forged checks on the rise
  • Augusta, KANSAS: Augusta Gazette – Recent mail thefts being reported in South Central Kansas
  • Jacksonville, TEXAS: Daily Progress – Vandals knock over more than 40 mailboxes, street signs
  • Chicago, ILLINOIS: EveryBlock Chicago – Mailbox Theft in Edgewater near Devon

Feb. 2, 2012

Feb. 3, 2012

Feb. 4, 2012

Feb. 5, 2012

  • Bucks County, PENNSYLVANIA: PhillyBurbs.com – Trouble Shooter: dealing with identity theft

Feb. 6, 2012

  • Los Gatos, CALIFORNIA: Los Gatos Patch – Los Gatos Police Blotter, Jan. 8-16
  • Houston, TEXAS: ABC 13 Falling victim to ID theft during tax season
  • Briarcliff Manor, NEW YORK: The Daily Briarcliff – Dozens of Mailboxes Damaged in Briarcliff Manor

Feb. 7, 2012

Feb. 8, 2012

  • Omaha, NEBRASKA: KETV 7 Check Fraud Scheme Starts With Mailbox Thefts
  • Omaha, NEBRASKA: FOX 42 – Woman Sentenced for Stealing Checks in the Mail
  • Ft. Lauderdale, FLORIDA: Sun-Sentinel – Don’t put outgoing mail in receptacles in the evening

Feb. 9, 2012

Feb. 10, 2012

 Portland, OREGON: The Oregonian Portland police find pile of stolen mail and counterfeit checks after traffic stop

Feb. 11, 2012

Feb. 13, 2012

Feb. 14, 2012

  • Briarcliff Manor, NEW YORK: The Daily Briarcliff – Police: Mailbox Spree Continues in Briarcliff
  • Enumclaw, WASHINGTON: Enumclaw Patch – Mail Theft in Monday’s Police Blotter

Feb. 15, 2012

  • Seaside, OREGON: Seaside Signal – Police seek public’s help in nabbing mail theft suspect or suspects
  • Brush Prairie, WASHINGTON: KOIN 6 – Thieves go through mailboxes in Brush Prairie neighborhood
  • Reno, NEVADA: 2 NEWS Woman Suspected of Multiple Fraud Acts Arrested

Feb. 16, 2012

Feb. 17, 2012

  • Bellingham, WASHINGTON: The News Tribune – Bellingham woman sentenced to prison for using stolen credit cards

Feb. 18, 2012

Feb. 19, 2012

Feb. 20, 2012

Feb. 21, 2012

Feb. 22, 2012

Feb. 23, 2012

Feb. 24, 2012

Feb. 25, 2012

Feb. 26, 2012

  • Trenton, MICHIGAN: Trenton Patch – Police Blotter: Woman Reports Items Stolen Out of Her Mailbox

Feb. 27, 2012

Feb. 28, 2012

Feb. 29, 2012

Remember: Mail theft is one of the easiest and most common ways thieves obtain your sensitive personal information for identity theft. If you have an unlocked mailbox, you are vulnerable and you may not ever realize when your bank statements, credit card offers, etc. are taken. Not surprisingly, most identity theft victims don’t even know how their information was stolen!!! Criminals find it far easier to pilfer from your curbside mailbox than sort through heaps of garbage looking for bits of info. To protect yourself, everyone recommends shredding personal documents. Yes, that is important… but most of what you shred comes in your mailbox! Use a secure locked mailbox like Mail Boss to protect yourself from the fastest growing crime of identity theft.

1 Comment

  1. Lavern Bue on April 4, 2012 at 12:24 pm

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