AUGUST 2005

A man gets out of his car, removes mail from a mailbox, gets back into his car, and drives away.  In less than 15 seconds, another Skagit County resident has become a victim of mail theft.

Although new to our area, mail theft has been a problem in other communities for quite some time.  The Federal Trade Commission reports that every year, over 400,000 Americans become victims of identity theft as a direct result of stolen mail.  The ease in which a suspect can remove mail from an unlocked box, and the ability to make online credit purchases combine to make this a growing problem.   Here are a few ways to minimize the risk of mail theft.

Utilize Block Watch diligently, and be visual in your neighborhood.  Even in rural areas, we know which vehicles are familiar.  If you don't recognize a vehicle in your neighborhood, take a minute to watch what they're doing.  I can't stress this enough.   We still have people who witness suspicious activity and don't bother to call the police or get a vehicle description.

Never send cash through the mail.   Use checks or money orders when paying bills, and take them to the post office or put them in a drop box.  One Thursday morning, our Crime Prevention staff randomly selected twenty residential blocks and counted more than fifteen flags up on mailboxes.  Flags tell everyone, including thieves, that you have outgoing mail inside.  Many businesses offer online payment, eliminating the need for leaving bills in your mailbox.

If you go on vacation, ask a neighbor to pick up your mail or have it held at the post office.  Mail should never be left in your box overnight.  Instead of having checks and credit cards sent to my home, I give my bank's address and pick them up there.   If mail containing sensitive information must be sent to your house, find out exactly when it should arrive and immediately report if it doesn't show up.

Lock boxes or "clusters" are a great alternative.   A secure, locked box reduces the risk of stolen mail and identity theft, provides peace of mind, and can be placed in an area of high visibility.  In addition to requiring approval from the postmaster, there is some cost involved.  Recently, one of our officers got together with his neighbors and installed an eight-box cluster.  The cost was about $140 each; however, they consider it a good investment.   On average, a victim of identity theft will spend more than 175 hours and $1,000 trying to clear his/her name.  It's the old adage, "Pay now or pay later."

Our mail system was created in a time when identity theft didn't exist.  Criminals have evolved and so must we.  Pay attention to what's going on in your neighborhood, put your outgoing mail in a drop box, and never leave mail in your box overnight.  Simple steps like these will help protect you against becoming a victim.

For further information, contact your local Postmaster or visit the following websites. www.usps.com and www.ftc.gov