Mail Theft Alert
5/14/2010 Two Huntington West homeowners have been victims of mail theft, one a few weeks ago and one this week. In one instance bills were stolen from a mailbox and the checks were modified to make purchases of $400 at our local WalMart and in the other, a check was stolen. Please be careful and report any new incidents of theft to the Post Master in Buford. If you see anything suspicious, please be sure to take down a description, a license plate number or whatever information you can gather and report it to the police and Post Office immediately. The tips below were taken from the United States Postal Service website:
- Use the letter slots at your post office to mail letters, or give them to a letter carrier.
- Deposit mail in blue collection boxes before the last pick up time that appears on the schedule posted on each box.
- Promptly remove mail from your mailbox after delivery, especially if you're expecting checks, credit cards, or other negotiable items. If you won't be home when the items are expected, ask a trusted friend or neighbor to pick up your mail. Don’t leave it in your mailbox overnight.
- Don’t send cash in the mail.
- Ask your bank for “secure” checks that can’t be altered.
- If you will be away from home for more than three days, ask the Post Office to hold your mail until you return. You can initiate a mail hold at the Post Office or online at USPS.com.
If you believe your mail was stolen, report it immediately to your local postmaster or a Postal Inspector. Postal Inspectors may determine whether your problem is isolated or part of a larger mail theft problem in your neighborhood--and it may help them locate and apprehend the thieves.
You can file a mail theft report with the Postal Inspectors by calling toll-free (877) 876-2455 or complete the report online at USPS.com/postalinspectors.
* There are pens available that have "fraud protection" ink, which can't be washed off. One such pen is the Bic G-2. There are many different brands available at office supply stores. *
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