Mail Identity Theft – August 2014

Here is the round up of mail identity theft in August 2014 from across the nation, including reports of stolen mail, mail thief arrests, and identity theft rings uncovered. Wichita, Kansas and areas of California were particularly hard hit this month. To prevent mail theft, a leading cause of the ID theft, use a locking mailbox, don’t send checks from an unsecured mailbox, and shred mail before discarding it to thwart dumpster divers.

Aug. 1:

• FAIRFIELD, Connecticut: Fairfield Citizen – Tax return swiped from mailbox, torn up
• WEST HARTFORD, Connecticut: WSFB 3 – West Hartford warns homeowners about mailbox intruders
• ALHAMBRA, California: ABC 7 – Mailboxes Stolen from Alhambra Post Office

Aug. 3:

• HOUSTON, Texas: YourHoustonNews.com – Houston man sentenced in theft, fraud ring
• ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico: KRQE 3 – Postal service warns residents to watch their mail

Aug. 4:

• RAYTOWN, Missouri: KMBC – 2nd woman reports check stolen from mailbox: Thief increased amount of cash, cashed it at credit union
• INDEPENDENCE, Missouri: KMBC.com – Woman says thief stole rent check from mailbox
• SAN BERNADINO, California: Highland Community News – Suspect Arrested for Stolen Checks

Aug. 5:

• LEHIGH VALLEY, Pennsylvania: Lehigh Valley Live.com – USPS mailbox vandalized in Lehigh Township, mail stolen in latest break-in, police report
• LEHIGH TOWNSHIP, Pennsylvania: The Morning Call – Police: Mail stolen from Lehigh Township post office drop box
• WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ohio: TheNewsCenter.TV – Charges Pending Against Mailbox Smashers
• EASTCHESTER, New York: News 12 – Mailbox fishing scheme targets personal info in Eastchester
• WOLCOTT, Connecticut: WFSB – Vehicles stolen, mailboxes vandalized in Wolcott

Aug. 6:

• AUGUSTA COUNTY, Virginia: WHSV3 – Several Mailboxes Vandalized in Augusta County
• RIO RANCHO, New Mexico: Rio Rancho Observer – Postal inspectors offer $10K reward for info in recent mailbox burglaries
• REDMOND, Washington: Redmond Reporter – Officers investigate pair of burglaries | Police blotter for Aug. 5
• LEHIGH VALLEY, Pennsylvania: Lehigh Valley Live.com – U.S. Post Office drop boxes burglarized across Lehigh Valley, raising identity theft fears
• WALNUT CREEK, California: KTVU – Police search for Walnut Creek mail thief

Aug. 7:

• MESA COUNTY, Colorado: KREXTV.com – Local Mailbox Thieves Costing Rate Payers Thousands
• LEXINGTON, Kentucky: WKYT – Lexington couple accused of trading stolen mail for gift cards

Aug. 8:

• HOUSTON, Texas: The Humble Observer – Four head to prison for theft and fraud ring
• SAN FRANCISCO, California: SFGate.com – Man busted in S.F. for allegedly stealing mail — again

 Aug. 9:

• HOUSTON, Texas: YourHoustonNews.com – Four head to prison in northeast Houston theft, fraud ring
• BERKELEY, California: Asbury Park Press – Homeless man, 19, charged in Berkeley mail theft

Aug. 11:

• FLAGLER BEACH, Florida: ClickOrlando.com – Man stole mail from mailboxes to open credit cards, Flagler cops say: Man sought after being caught on surveillance video stealing mail
• FLAGLER BEACH, Florida: News4Jax.com – Flagler Co. seek public’s help IDing mail thief

Aug. 12:

• LaFAYETTE, Georgia: NorthwestGeorgiaNews.com – LaFayette man arrested for mail fraud
• FLAGLER BEACH, Florida: WESH.com – Thief stealing mail, identities from Flagler County victims: Deputies identify 2 victims, worry there are more
• WAUSAU, Wisconsin: WSAW 7 – Feb. Trial Scheduled for Suspect in Mail Theft Case

Aug. 14:

• COLUMBUS, Georgia: WTVM.com – Security camera text message alert shows woman stealing mail

• SMYTH COUNTY, Virginia: WCYB 5 – More than a hundred mailboxes vandalized in Smyth County, Va.

Aug. 15:

• SAN ANTONIO, Texas: KSAT 12 – Defenders Investigation: Mail theft up in SA: Top items reported stolen: electronics, credit/debit/ATM/phone cards
• EVERETT, Washington: Everett Herald – 3 involved in massive identity theft ring sentenced to prison
• SANTA ROSA, California: The Press Democrat – Santa Rosa woman arrested on identity theft charges
• EVERETT, Washington: KOMO 4 – 3 sentenced in Everett for string of identity thefts
• CALEDONIA, Wisconsin: The Journal Times  – Police seek culprit in birthday gift theft from mailbox
• GREELEY, Colorado: Crimesider – Police seek suspects in Colorado mailbox explosions
• MONTGOMERY, Ohio: WKRC 12 – Check stolen from mailbox

Aug. 16:

• SEATTLE, Washington: KIRO 7 – Mail thief targeting Magnolia homes

Aug. 18:

• REDMOND, Washington: Redmond Reporter – Police blotter for Aug. 15-17

Aug. 19:

• WASCO COUNTY, Oregon: The Dalles Chronicle – Fivemile hit by mail thief
• CALEDONIA, Wisconsin: Journal Times – Suspect in birthday card mail theft turns self in after seeing photo
• NEWCASTLE, California: Auburn Journal – Mail thieves raid Newcastle boxes: Residents on the lookout for suspicious characters
• SACRAMENTO, California: Sacramento Bee – North Highlands woman pleads guilty to fraud, identity theft, possessing stolen mail
• CONCORD, New Hampshire: SeacoastOnline.com – Repeat ID thief back in prison for financial fraud

Aug. 20:

• POLSON, Montana: Lake County Leader – Mailbox check theft rising in Polson
• SCOTTSDALE, Arizona: AZCentral.com – Snail mail needs to be protected from theft, too

Aug. 21:

• FAIRFAX, Virginia: Fairfax Times – Public safety briefs: Man charged with stealing mail in Herndon

Aug. 22:

• SEBASTOPOL, California: Contra Costa Times – Richmond man arrested for DUI, vehicle theft in Sonoma County

Aug. 24:

• HOPKINSVILLE, Kentucky: Kentucky New Era – Man reports check stolen from mailbox, cashed

Aug. 25:

• LEXINGTON, Kentucky: ABC 36 – Alleged Mail Thief Arrested For Stealing “Cream”
• REIDSVILLE, North Carolina: WFMYNews2.com – Four Charged With Rockingham Mailbox Vandalism

Aug. 26:

• FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Connecticut: HamletHub.com – 2 charged with mail theft, fraud

Aug. 27:

• MONTE SERENO, California: San Jose Mercury News – Blotter: Woman admits to stealing mail in Monte Sereno
• TUSCON, Arizona: KVOA.com – Man accused of trying to sell stolen UofA tickets

 Aug. 28:

• LYNCHBURG, Virginia: WSET.com – Mail Carrier: Package Stolen Right Out Of Hands
• BIG BEAR VALLEY, California: BigBearGrizzly.net – Authorities Warn About Stolen Mail
• WICHITA, Kansas: KSN.com – Mail thefts becoming more common in Wichita
• WICHITA, Kansas: KWCH 12 – Warning: mail thefts on rise in Wichita

Aug. 29:

• SEDGWICK COUNTY, Kansas: The Topeka Capital-Journal – Sedgwick district attorney warns of mail theft: Thieves are targeting government checks, credit card applications
• SPOKANE, Washington: NWCN – Mail theft triples across Spokane
• REDLANDS, California: The Desert Sun – Checks to Erin Corwin’s rescue team stolen from mailbox
• BIG BEAR, California: PI.com – BIG BEAR: One man arrested in mail theft; second man sought

Aug. 31:

• BIG BEAR CITY, California: Big Bear News – Identify Theft Operation Exposed in Big Bear City