Mail-Identity Theft: January 2016

Mail thieves plague nation, even after the holidays

Typically, December is the worst month for mail theft, as thieves are targeting mailboxes to steal checks and gift cards from the mail. However, mail thieves have not slowed down this January and are out in full force stealing from unlocked mailboxes and low-security locking mailboxes alike, stealing sensitive information for ID theft.

Below you will find an interactive map of mail theft activity from January 2016. Markers are categorized by:

	Mail stolen
	Mailbox burglary
	Mail theft warning
	Mail-ID theft arrest

You can click on a marker for more information and to link through to the story.

[put_wpgm id=2]
With tax season just around the corner, we don’t expect this trend to abate. Please consider protecting your sensitive information from would-be identity thieves with a high quality security mailbox.

As always, we have curated the mail theft news for the month below:

Jan. 1:

• CHARLOTTE, North Carolina: WCNC.com – Identity theft risk high during tax season; “Mattick has gone to great lengths to secure the box, including lighting it, a double lock, and doubling the metal surrounding the lock, yet that still wasn’t enough to stop the thief.”

Jan. 2:

• COCHISE COUNTY, Arizona: Tucson News Now – Deputies investigate break-ins, mail theft in Sierra Vista; “The mailbox “bank” had damage to the metal backing and mail had been removed.  One resident, according to investigators, said their checks were stolen from the box.”
• NEOSHO, Missouri: KOAM 7 – Christmas packages stolen in Neosho; ““They originally left it on the porch but the mail person stated that before they got back in their vehicle, they did see somebody inside the house grab the package and take it inside,” says Sergeant Mike Whitehead with the Neosho Police Department.”

Jan. 3:

• AMERICAN CANYON, California: Napa Valley Register – Stolen credit, ID cards recovered in American Canyon, police say; “At 11:07 a.m., officers serving a search warrant in the first block of Sirah Drive discovered mail, checkbooks, driver’s licenses, credit cards and ATM cards that had been stolen from various Bay Area residents, according to American Canyon Police Sgt. Dave Ackman.”
• STOCKTON, California: RecordNet.com – Weston Ranch residents fed up with mail theft; “Sometime that month, the Lees — along with more than a dozen neighbors — discovered their cluster group mailbox was pried open during daylight hours, with all that day’s delivered mail stolen.”

Jan. 4:

• DARIEN, Connecticut: Darien Patch – Darien Mail Thief Stole from 18 Residences: The man was caught after a foot pursuit with police. He allegedly stole from Darien and Norwalk; “Police got a report from a concerned citizen on Linden Avenue about a man who was suspiciously opening multiple mailboxes.”

Jan. 5:

• LAS VEGAS, Nevada: KTNV.com – Another neighborhood falls victim to mail theft; “Another Summerlin neighborhood has fallen victim to mail theft. They’ve been hit multiple times. This time, in Autumn Ridge, near Desert Inn Road and Highway 215.”
• CHESTER, Maryland: MyEasternShoreMD.com – Glasses misses from mailbox; “On Nov. 25, Claire L. Floyd of Bayside Drive reported her new prescription eyeglasses, valued at $600, were stolen from her mailbox.” 
• TUOLUMNE COUNTY, California: The Union Democrat – News of Record for Jan. 5, 2016; “5:29 p.m., Sonora — Someone stole mail from a Mono Way business’s mailbox.”
• COLUMBUS, Ohio: ABC 6 – Thief targeting mail in west Columbus neighborhood; “A west Columbus neighborhood is frustrated tonight, after a thief targeted their mailboxes. They say someone took mail and even cashed hundreds of dollars in checks.”
• MONTGOMERY, Alabama: WBRC 6 – Authorities searching for woman who went “postal” on mailbox; “On Dec. 18, security cameras caught the woman coming onto the porch of a home in the 300 block of Mildred Street around 8 p.m. While on the porch, she damaged the mail box and grabbed unknown items of mail from inside.”
• TROUP COUNTY, Georgia: WTVM 9 – Troup County makes an arrest in connection to numerous mail thefts; “Troup County investigators worked extensively with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Postal Inspectors on these cases. The suspect was identified as 35-year-old Robert Brent Jackson of Columbus.”
• NORMANDY PARK, Washington: Q13 Fox – Cops bust pair of suspected mail thieves near Normandy Park Police Dept; “A pair of suspected mail thieves are now off the streets and behind bars after cops say they found their car filled with stolen mail.”
• BANDERA COUNTY, Texas: KENS5 – Mailbox clusters found empty in Bandera County, suspects sought; “Residents in Bandera County said mail thefts in their area are getting out of hand. They said entire mailbox clusters have been found empty.”
• GULFPORT, Mississippi: Sun Herald – Texas man admits role in theft of checks from mailboxes in Harrison County, elsewhere; “A Texas man is facing up to three years in prison for failing to report to authorities his knowledge of a conspiracy to steal checks from mailboxes in Harrison County and elsewhere and using other people’s identities to produce counterfeit checks to buy items at Wal-Mart stores.”

• MONTGOMERY, Alabama: WTVM 9 – MPD searching for mailbox thief; “Investigators are looking for a woman who damaged the front window of a Montgomery home, and the homeowner’s mailbox before taking off with the mailbox contents. She’s wanted by the Montgomery Police Department and the United States Postal Service for mail theft, destruction of a mail receptacle and criminal mischief.”

• GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan: UPI.com – Mail carrier chases down package thieves, is thanked in viral post; “The thief-chasing mailman was identified as Louie Kunst. Kunst said the teens tried to deny the theft.”

• MADISON, Alabama: Madison County Record – Huntsville woman arrested for mailbox thefts; “Madison Police Department has arrested a Huntsville woman on charges of thefts from mailboxes in Madison.”

Jan. 6:

• TROUP COUNTY, Georgia: LaGrangeNews.com – Alleged ‘mail thief’ now behind bars; “Investigators with the Troup County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday they arrested a man accused involved in numerous mail thefts from homes around the county.”
• BAKERSFIELD, California: Kern Golden Empire – Mailbox thief sentenced to 3 years 4 months in custody; “Blake Reed, 19, was arrested Dec. 2 after police responded to reports of a man stealing mail and a package from the front porch of a house, the Bakersfield Police Department said.”
• CUPERTINO, California: San Jose Mercury News – Cupertino Blotter: Packages stolen from resident’s mailbox; “Theft–Dec. 26, 3:54 p.m. Homestead Road. Several packages containing clothing, toys and climbing equipment were stolen from a resident’s mailbox. The estimated total value of items stolen is approximately $200.“

Jan. 7:

• BOISE, Idaho: KTVB 7 – Nyssa man sentenced for mail theft; “Federal prosecutors say Riley broke into post office boxes last summer and removed mail so that he could steal the contents of the mail.”
• DAKOTA COUNTY, Minnesota: Hastings Star Gazette – Mail thefts are reported, one charged; “The Dakota County Sheriff’s Office has charged Kyle Michael Kallas, 35, Hastings, with controlled substance in the fifth degree (possession), check forgery (make or alter), and mail theft (address to another) following the report of an individual in Ravenna Township that someone had stolen mail and forged checks.”
• CALEDONIA, Mississippi: WCBI.com – Video: Mailbox Security for Caledonia; “Thursday morning there were additional reports by police of suspects opening roadside mailboxes and taking out credit cards and other items of value.”
• RESEDA, California: The Acorn – Man arrested for mail, identity theft; “While conducting a search inside the Reseda home of Wilfredo Marquez, 32, detectives recovered a slew of stolen credit cards, bank checks, driver licenses, mail box keys and other personal identification information that Marquez allegedly pilfered.”
• MALIBU, California: Malibu Surfside News – Reseda man arrested for theft-related crimes in Malibu and surrounding area; “Detectives from the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station conducted a search warrant and arrested Wilfredo Marquez, 32, for multiple counts of mail theft, credit card fraud, identity theft and other theft-related crimes.”
• STEAD, Nevada: KOLO TV – Mail Theft: A Crime With Serious Consequences; “Residents of a neighborhood in Stead got a nasty surprise when they went to pick up their mail at a centralized collection box recently. Thieves had pried the individual boxes open. What they got isn’t known, but the possibilities are enough to cause worry.”
• GILLSVILLE, Georgia: WTVM 9 – You’ve got mail, maybe not; “Sheriff’s deputies are looking for a man accused of stealing items from mail boxes at several residences in the Hall County community of Gillsville.”

• TAUNTON, Massachusetts: WCBV 5 – Scituate man charged with stealing packages in East Taunton, and six other towns; “Police said in addition to the opened mail, which included holiday cards, they also, while booking Hudson, found that he was carrying 14 debit, credit and membership cards, all assigned to other people, as well as 13 reward/gift/courtesy cards in other people’s names.”

• RIVERSIDE, California: Anza Valley Outlook – Mail thefts ‘epidemic,’ acting postmaster warns; “Mail thefts in the Anza and Aguanga areas are “epidemic” Acting Anza Postmaster John Kolb said. “Not only here but everywhere. It is a sad state of affairs.” Kolb from the Anza Post Office on Contreras Road in Anza reported that there have been six community mailboxes on Tripp Flats road torn open and mail stolen two weeks before Christmas and six more after Christmas.”

• SCITUATE, Massachusetts: Metro.US – Man allegedly stole mail in seven Mass. towns: The suspect had a minimal criminal record and had allegedly been recovering from opiate abuse; “Inside a large nylon laundry bag, which Hudson claimed was full of dirty laundry, police found letters and packages addressed to residents of East Taunton, Falmouth, Mashpee, Marston Mills, Cotuit, Wareham and Sagamore Beach.”

• SHAKOPEE, Minnesota: Shakopee Valley News – Shakopee woman sentenced for mail theft; “A Shakopee woman who delivered morning newspapers and was caught stealing mail through a police ruse with the use of a GPS tracking device in July has been placed on probation and ordered to serve jail time and perform community service.”

Jan. 8:

• JACKSON, Michigan: MLive.com – Jackson Police Department: Officers investigate mail theft; “Officer Brant investigated a larceny of mail packages in the 900 block of W. Washington Avenue.”
• WHITE BEAR LAKE, Minnesota: PressPubs.com – Alleged package thief arrested again with new accomplice; “Holdahl also is facing another felony mail theft charge in connection with a theft of packages from a residence on 10^th Street on Dec. 18. “
• TURLOCK, California: Turlock Journal – Police nab holiday mail thieves in Turlock; “An alert resident helped the Turlock Police Department catch a pair of suspected mail thieves over the holidays and recover more than 300 pieces of stolen mail.“
• FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida: South Florida Sun-Sentinel – Man gets probation for depositing checks others stole from condo mailboxes; “A Fort Lauderdale man who admitted he cashed checks that other people stole from condominium complexes was sentenced Friday to three years of probation and ordered to pay more than $12,400 in restitution.”
• JACKSON, Michigan: MLive.com – Jackson boy to be charged in mail thefts, police say; “On Thursday, Jan. 7, an officer with the Jackson Police Department responded to the 400 block of South Grinnell Street in order to investigate a larceny of mail report, Jackson Police Lt. Christopher Simpson said.”
• BOISE, Idaho: Clearwater Tribune – Nyssa Man Sentenced For Mail Theft; “Bobby Eugene Riley, 20, of Nyssa, Idaho, was sentenced Jan. 6 to four months in prison and three years of supervised released for stealing mail from the Homedale, Idaho Post Office. “
• TULSA, Oklahoma: NewsOn6.com – Mail Theft ‘Nothing New’ For Tulsa Neighborhood; “”We’ve had that problem for several years around here – people steal mail out of the mailboxes. We went and got a post office box about three years ago because of that problem,” he said.”

• TULSA, Oklahoma: NewsOn6.com – Tulsa Mail Theft Suspect Arrested Thanks To Alert Neighbor; “Police arrested a woman after neighbor saw her stealing mail from mailboxes in a Tulsa neighborhood Friday morning.”

• TULSA, Oklahoma: NewsOn6.com – Police Release Identity Of Tulsa Mail Theft Suspect; “They arrested Melissa Nelson on a drug complaint and took to the police station so postal inspectors could question her about the mail theft.”

Jan. 9:

• TULSA, Oklahoma: KRMG.com – Thief gets caught red-handed stealing mail: No word on if she’s connected to other mail thefts; “A woman was arrested on Friday, after a homeowner spotted the suspect going through her mailbox. The incident happened around 7:35 a.m., near 71st and Sheridan.”

Jan. 10:

• TULSA, Oklahoma: Tulsa World – Woman reportedly steals mail from 18 people in south Tulsa neighborhood; “Officers found Nelson in the area with unlabeled prescription medication and a credit card that wasn’t in her name, according to the report.”

Jan. 11:

• ST. CLOUD, Minnesota: SCTimes.com – Police: Watch for identity tax fraud; “Mail theft is the largest issue, where thieves may steal W-2 forms from mailboxes, the release said.”
• YONKERS, New York: PostStar.com – Series of mailbox check thefts reported in Yonkers, Bronx; “Authorities are warning the public of a series of check thefts from mailboxes in the Bronx and Yonkers.”
• KENNEWICK, Washington: Tri-City Herald – Stolen Kennewick mail recovered in Richland; “Law enforcement and postal authorities recommend locking mailboxes to help prevent theft.”
• TULSA, Oklahoma: FOX 23 – Tulsa residents fall victim to mail theft; “Tulsa residents said someone is stealing their mail. One resident said his bill money never arrived to its intended destination and now he is part of a fraud investigation.”
• CHARLOTTE, North Carolina: WCNC.com – Neighbors relieved after police arrest mail theft suspect; “We’re hearing from residents in southeast Charlotte where police say someone has been stealing mail for the last several months. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police made an arrest last week and recovered a big stack of items that more than 20 people had been missing.”

Jan. 12:

• MANTECA, California: Manteca Bulletin – Postal Service is slow to remedy mailbox problem; “Our community mailbox was vandalized in the first week of December. The first week there simply was an absence of mail.”
• ABERDEEN, Mississippi: WTVA.com – Two people could face mail theft charges; “Investigators say Christina Ann Abbott, 40, and Clinton Matthew Joshlin, 35, of Carbon Hill, Alabama were stopped on Lake Lilly Road Saturday and arrested for possession of a controlled substance. Deputies also found mail belonging to people throughout the southeastern U. S..”
• RIVERSIDE, California: The Press Enterprise – RIVERSIDE: Two men arrested on suspicion of mail theft; “Two men were arrested early Tuesday, Jan. 12, after they were found with mail that didn’t belong to them, Riverside police said.”
• NEVADA COUNTY, California: The Union – Couple arrested in connection with burglaries, mail thefts; “A couple was arrested and reportedly found with stolen mail and items from earlier burglaries Monday morning, just six weeks after being arrested in connection with a pair of burglaries.”

• TUCSON, Arizona: KVOA 4 – Mail theft hits midtown neighborhood; “Investigators said mail was stolen last Friday along a section of Dodge Boulevard in midtown. Witnesses said, they saw a woman taking the mail out of curbside boxes.”

Jan. 13:

• TULSA, Arizona: Tulsa World – Tulsa man arrested, accused of mail thefts; “Tulsa police and the U.S. Postal Inspector’s Office found and arrested Smith after an effort to curb a swell of mail theft that has plagued the Tulsa area, according to a Tulsa Police Department news release.”
  
• HERCULES, California: Contra Costa Times – Hercules: One man, two women arrested after police traffic stop; “Two Vallejo residents and a Richmond woman were arrested after a traffic stop revealed suspected incidents of mail theft, police said.”
• COVINGTON, Washington: Maple Valley Reporter – Stolen checks from mailbox cashed by suspect; “On Jan. 8 officers responded to reports of theft from the victim’s mailbox. According to the policereport, checks were missing from the mailbox. Checks were then cashed by the unknown suspects.”
• ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico: KRQE 13 – Thieves targeting mailboxes across Albuquerque; ““It appears that somebody used a pry bar,” said Bob Trudo, a northeast Albuquerque resident. Two locked cluster mailboxes were broken into on his block back in December.”
• SUPRISE, Arizona: ABC 15 – Surprise police investigate credit card theft; “Surprise police are searching for a person who may be involved in a mail theft involving several stolen credit cards.”

• LAS VEGAS, Nevada: News3LV.com – String of mailbox break-ins puts neighbors on edge; “Neighbors say they are afraid after thieves cracked into mailboxes near Rainbow Blvd and Sahara Ave.”

• VACAVILLE, California: The Reporter – Bank, Vacaville Police catch man allegedly using stolen checks; “Vacaville police arrested a Fairfield man who allegedly stole mail and attempted to use stolen checks at a Chase Bank.”

• CORONA, California: The Press Enterprise – CORONA: Four arrested after being found with mail of 50 residents, police say; “Four people were arrested early Monday, Jan. 11, when Corona police found them in a U-Haul truck that officers said contained mail stolen from 50 residents and 25 boxes of stolen legal documents.”

Jan. 14:

• TWENTYNINE PALMS, California: The Desert Trail – Trio faces identity theft charges; “Edwards was arrested for a felony no-bail arrest warrant. She was found to be in possession of numerous credit cards in 14 different names. She was also in possession of suspected stolen mail.”
• MALIBU, California: Malibu Times – Identity Theft Suspect Arrested; “On the morning of Thursday, Jan. 7, Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station detectives conducted a search warrant at a home in Reseda and recovered several hundred pieces of stolen mail, according to a release from Lieutenant James Royal of the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station.”
• SAVANNAH, Georgia: WJCL.com – SCMPD made arrest for methamphetamines and stolen mail; “Hodges was arrested after Islands Precinct detectives and U.S. Postal Inspectors found Hodges in possession of methamphetamine and stolen mail.”
• LOST HILLS, California: The Acorn – Man arrested on identity theft charges; “Detectives from the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station arrested a Reseda man Jan. 7 on suspicion of multiple counts of mail theft, credit card fraud and identity theft involving local residents.”
• SAVANNAH, Georgia: Savannah Morning News – Savannah-Chatham police arrest man in neighborhood mail thefts; “Savannah-Chatham police arrested a man Wednesday for stealing mail in various Savannah neighborhoods and drug possession following a multi-agency investigation. Police arrested Christopher Hodges after he was found with methamphetamine and about 500 pieces of stolen mail, said Sonny Cohrs, Savannah-Chatham police spokesman.”

Jan. 15:

• AUBURN, Washington: Auburn Reporter – Auburn Police blotter | Jan. 15; “Postal theft: 7 a.m., 3200 block of M Street Southeast. Somebody broke into a mailbox and took mail.”
• YELM, Washington: Nisqually Valley News – Yelm Woman Charged With Mail Theft Pleads Not Guilty; “Serina M. Nevalasca, 23, of Yelm, has been charged with mail theft, possession of stolen mail, and second-degree identity theft. She faces 17 counts in all.”
• LOS ALAMITOS, California: SunNews.org – Crime Log: Mail theft reported in Los Alamitos; “Mail was reportedly stolen out of blue collection boxes in Los Alamitos and in areas of Los Angeles recently.”
• WEST SEATTLE, Washington: West Seattle Blog – West Seattle Crime Watch: Mail stolen; “I am contacting you so you can remind our West Seattle community to be vigilant about checking their mail every day. I live at on the 6000 block of California Avenue near the Morgan Junction and a row of mailboxes was broken into last night.”

Jan. 16:

• ROSEVILLE, California: Rocklin Today – Roseville Flash Crime Report (1.16.16); “Sun City, mail theft:  Sometime between January 9 and January 10, someone stole outgoing mail from a community mailbox on Country Rim Court.  Bicyclists found some of the mail discarded on Fiddyment Road and returned it to the victim.”
• TALENT, Oregon: Mail Tribune – Emergency services, Jan. 16; “Stephen Charles Head, 25, no known address. Talent police arrested Head Friday on felony charges of first-degree forgery, first-degree theft, first-degree possession of a forgery instrument and felony mail theft. He was lodged in jail Friday on $20,000 bail.”
• PARADISE, California: Paradise Post – Police Log; “Found Property: 8:51 a.m. on Salida Way. Reporting party advising her mother recovered her mail at location. Theft — Petty: 11:23 a.m. on Copeland Rd. Stolen mail recovered by USPS. Theft — Petty: 7:25 p.m. on Valley View Dr. Theft of outgoing mail from mailbox. Occurred 1/9/6.

Jan. 17:

• CHICO, California: KRCRTV.com – 40 mailboxes vandalized, contents stolen; “Vandals broke into a Chico neighborhood mailbox and stole all of its contents.”
• CLOVIS, California: The Fresno Bee – Clovis man arrested for suspected burglary after neighbor tipped off police; “Police said Holguin was inside the house for several days, and officers found him with stolen laptops, mail, jewelry, checks, identification materials and methamphetamine.”

Jan. 18:

• HILLSBORO, Oregon: OregonLive.com – Hillsboro police log for Jan. 10-16; “Mail theft was reported in the 3800 block of Northeast Jackson School Road.”
• HOLLAND, Indiana: The Herald – Sheriff’s department seeks mailbox vandalism info; “The Dubois County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help as deputies investigate multiple mailbox vandalisms that occurred during the weekend in the Holland area.”
• CHULA VISTA, California: NBC 7 – Vandals Break into Community Mailbox in Eastlake; ““It’s been pried apart like with crowbars and the whole back of the mailbox is completely bent out so they’ve been able to take mail from every box,” Eastlake neighbor Lisa Roberts told NBC 7.”
• PIMA COUNTY, Arizona: Green Valley News – Public Safety Briefs: Check missing from mailbox; “A $450 check was reported missing from a mailbox in Madera Highlands in Sahuarita on Thursday.”
• SOUTH FARGO, North Dakota: ValleyNewsLive.com – Woodhaven residents still dealing with mail problems; “Jeannie Roerick lives in Woodhaven. Roerick said she hasn’t lost any mail, but has received her neighbor’s mail many times.”

Jan. 19:

• NAVAJO COUNTY, Arizona: WMICentral.com – NCSO reports mail thefts: Asks anyone with information to contact agency; “Specifically in the jurisdiction of the Sheriff’s Office, deputies have taken five reports of mail theft from roadside boxes east of Snowflake. Locations include Woodruff Highway Hollow Road, south to Concho Highway as well as areas in between.”
• SAVANNAH, Georgia: WTOC 11 – Police give tips on how to avoid mail theft; “It’s a difficult situation, because if you aren’t there when the mail is stolen, you really don’t know it’s gone unless you were expecting something.”

Jan. 20:

• HANOVER COUNTY, Virginia: Richmond Times-Dispatch – Hanover charges 4 N.C. men with stealing ‘thousands of pieces of mail’ from Air Park businesses; “Stem said “thousands of pieces of mail” were believed taken on Jan. 14, and so far 10 victims have been identified.”
• WEST HOLLYWOOD, California: NBC Los Angeles – Mail Theft Caught on Camera Twice in LA Building; “Surveillance video captured images of suspected mail theft on two different occasions, putting residents in the West Hollywood building on alert Tuesday.”
• BAKERSFIELD, California: Bakersfield Now – KSCO looking for ID theft suspect; “The Kern County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating a man suspected of identity theft, forgery and mail theft.”
• KERN COUNTY, California: Bakersfield Now – Man suspected of stealing firefighter’s, woman’s identity; “The false identities along with stolen mail were used to pass checks at the Vons Grocery Store located in the 2400 block of North Chester Avenue.”

• ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico: KRQE 13 – Woman arrested in connection with mailbox thefts; “Bernalillo County deputies have arrested a woman suspected in a rash of mailbox thefts over the past six months.”

• ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico: KOB 4 – Packages, mail go missing from ABQ mailboxes; “A locked mailbox is supposed to offer security, but for potentially hundreds of people in Albuquerque, that security up in the air.”

• ASHLAND, Oregon: KDRV.com – Ashland Police See Increase in Mail Theft; “One mail carrier says that it is very surprising that there has been seven thefts since Jan. 1.”

• HANOVER COUNTY, Virginia: WRIC.com – Hanover Sheriff’s deputies arrest 4 in connection to series of mail larcenies; “The larcenies occurred during the evening hours of January 14. As of this date, 10 victims have been identified in Hanover County. Investigators continue to work diligently to recover stolen mail, identify additional victims in Hanover County, and assist the United States Postal Inspection Service with identifying victims from Maryland to North Carolina.”

• MINDEN, Louisiana: Minden Press-Herald – Minden man arrested on theft charges; “Webster Parish sheriff’s deputies say they were advised Moore had stolen mail from several residents’ mailboxes in the Penal Farm Road area.”

• HANOVER COUNTY, Virginia: WTVR 6 – Mail stolen from Hanover Air Park: Are you a victim?; “Four men were arrested for stealing thousands of pieces of mail from the Hanover County Air Park.  The mail was taken the night of January 14, a Hanover Sheriff’s Office spokesman said. Investigators are now working to return the stolen mail to victims in Hanover County and as far away as Maryland and North Carolina.”

Jan. 21:

• HANOVER, Virginia: WVVA.com – 4 men arrested in connection to Hanover mail thefts; “Four North Carolina men have been arrested on charges of stealing thousands of pieces of mail containing checks and documents from businesses in the Hanover County Industrial Air Park.”
• TEMESCAL VALLEY, California: Press Enterprise – String of mail thefts concern residents; “Federal officials have arrested two people in connection with a slew of recent mail thefts in Corona and the Temescal Valley.”
• CLOVIS, California: The Fresno Bee – Clovis police warn of spike in mail-theft; “Clovis Police are asking for residents to be on the lookout for thieves and to pick up their mail on a daily basis.”
• MAPLE LEAF SEATTLE, Washington: Maple Leaf Life – Mail theft; “I’m writing to report that mail theft continues to happen in Maple Leaf. The latest was on Northeast 96th Street, between 15th Avenue Northeast and Roosevelt Way Northeast, and it happened between Tuesday 1/19 and Wednesday 1/20.”

• LOUISVILLE, Kentucky: WDRB.com – Louisville man indicted on charges of stealing USPS packages from homes; “Joseph Carr, 48, is accused of stealing a Hot Wheels toy kit left on a porch on Larchmont Avenue in Louisville, in addition to stealing a coat, blanket and rug from the mail at another house in the area.”

Jan. 22:

• HOLBROOK, Arizona: AZ Daily Sun – 2 women arrested in stolen mail cases in Show Low, Snowflake; “Authorities say two women have been arrested in connection with stolen mail in Snowflake and Show Low.”
• MASON CITY, Iowa: KIMT.com – Postal investigation underway in north Iowa; “Authorities say about 50 to 100 people in the area have had their mail stolen over the past couple of months.”
• SIMI VALLEY, California: Simi Valley Acorn – Avoid becoming victim of mail theft; “In an effort to reduce the public’s chances of becoming victims of mail theft, the Simi Valley Police Department is providing the following mail theft prevention tips: Mail should be collected on the same day it’s posted. Never leave mail in a mailbox overnight.”
• ELK GROVE, California: The Sacramento Bee – Elk Grove woman sentenced to prison for role in stolen mail scheme; “Court documents allege that Southwood, Ryan and Velasco possessed mail stolen from more than 1,000 victims and more than 30 credit cards in victims’ names.”
• MASON CITY, Iowa: Globe Gazette – North Iowans report mail theft; “Approximately 50 customers reported mail stolen in December and January, mostly in December, said U.S. Postal Inspector Jim O’Hara. The stolen items, mostly letter mail, were taken from mailboxes in Mason City, Northwood, Lake Mills, Clear Lake and Manly, O’Hara said.”
• CLOVIS, California: YourCentralValley.com – Mail theft concerning Clovis residents: Residents are urged to keep an eye on their mailboxes; “A string of mail thefts in Clovis has residents on guard tonight. Thieves are breaking into mail boxes around the city and stealing mail.”
• CLOVIS, California: ABC 30 – Rash of Broken Mailboxes Raises ID Theft Concerns in Clovis; “Someone broke into a community mailbox near Temperance and Shepherd and Clovis police believe the thieves stole every piece of mail. Police say it’s happened to at least 13 mailboxes so far and the crime isn’t hard to spot.”
• RIVERSIDE, California: Press Enterprise – RIVERSIDE: Engagement ring purchase leads to ID theft arrest; “Inside the house, Sgt. Carlos Flores said in a written statement, officers found stolen mail, credit cards, bank checks — and the receipt for the ring.”
• MESA, Arizona: ABC 15 – PD: Mesa man stole mail, cashed victim’s check; “Police went to Henry’s home and went through his trash. Inside they found mail belonging to many of his victims. Inside his home they found counterfeit checks, credit and debit cards, and other items related to identity theft.”

Jan. 23:

• WEST SEATTLE, Washington: West Seattle Blog – West Seattle Crime Watch: Package and mail theft; “I wanted to report continued mail theft in Highland Park neighborhood. I have now found mail discarded on lawns and stuffed in bushes on three different occasions/3 different addresses, around 18th-20th Ave SW and Trenton St. The first occasion was in late November, the second right before Christmas, and (Friday) January 22nd. The mail has all been from homes in Highland Park and within a few block of where I found it.
• WEST MONROE, Louisiana: KNOE 8 – West Monroe residents dealing with vandalized; “One resident said he has replaced his mailbox almost 6 times. This time a local mailman had to fish out mail; that was dumped by the dam.”

Jan. 24:

• WEST SEATTLE, Washington: West Seattle Blog – West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen mail found; “More Highland Park Mail Theft: Shirley in Highland Park wants her neighbors in the 11th/12th/Barton vicinity to “please be aware that there is a lot of mail being taken and thrown on the ground and or put in other mailboxes. On my dog walk this am I found some of my neighbor’s mail in my paper box. This afternoon walking the dog, I found another neighbor’s mail in the alley … Also noticed several mailboxes open along the way.””
• WEST SEATTLE, Washington: West Seattle Blog – West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen mail found; “Stolen Mail Found in Seaview: A reader “found someone’s mail from Ballard (Friday morning) dumped at the corner of 44th SW and SW Graham.” They planned to take it back to the Post Office but added, “I just wanted to let people know to be watchful for thieves using our neighborhood like this.””

Jan. 25:

• CALHOUN COUNTY, South Carolina: TheTandD.com – Mail stolen from business included $1,634 check; “The owner of Big Beaver Machine Shop, 8342 Columbia Road near Swansea, reported Jan. 12 that someone stole mail from the business’ mailbox. He said four or five pieces of mail were found beside Lost Valley Road and a Wells Fargo check made payable to Paxair for $1,634.51 was missing.”
• WEST SEATTLE, Washington: West Seattle Blog – West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen mail found; “Shirley in Highland Park wants her neighbors in the 11th/12th/Barton vicinity to “please be aware that there is a lot of mail being taken and thrown on the ground and or put in other mailboxes.”
• CLOVIS, California: The Fresno Bee – Look out for mail thieves in Clovis neighborhoods, police warn; “There has been a recent spike in community mailbox breaches, said Clovis Police Department spokeswoman Janet Stoll-Lee.”
• CHICO, California: KRCR 7 – Chico police warning public about recent mail thefts; “The Chico Police Department is warning the public about multiple reports of mail theft in the Chico area.”
• LAS VEGAS, Nevada: LasVegasNow.com – Mailbox thefts become growing problem around the valley; “Mailbox theft: It’s a problem around the valley, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to leave anytime soon. Residents near W. Sahara Avenue and S. Hualapai Way say several of their mailboxes have been hit in the past few weeks.”
• MCLENNAN COUNTY, Texas: BeautyCRIBTV.com – Drugs, burglary, ID theft: 7 charged in Central Texas crime ring bust; “Necole Martin, 21, has been charged in connection with a criminal enterprise in Bellmead that involved trafficking methamphetamine, marijuana and ecstasy as well as committing burglaries, forgeries and identity thefts.”

Jan. 26:

• LAGUNA BEACH, California: The Orange County Register – Mail thieves targeting Laguna Beach; “Police are looking for suspects accused of opening dozens of mailboxes and in some cases stealing mail from Saturday night to Sunday morning in Laguna Beach.”
• ANCHORAGE, Alaska: KTUU – Months-long spree of mail thefts continues in Hillside neighborhood; “Mail theft during the holidays may be common, but for one neighborhood in South Anchorage, the problem hasn’t stopped. Rodger Nelson, a member of the Upper Huffman neighborhood watch team, says the mail thefts in his neighborhood have been going on since November.”
• LAS VEGAS, Nevada: News3LV.com – Mailbox break-ins leave residents in a local neighborhood angry; “Thieves are targeting a local neighborhood for their mailboxes and neighbors are fed up. They’re not sure why it keeps happening and are seeking answers.”
• LEXINGTON, Kentucky: LEX18.com – Crime Stoppers: Christmas Cards Stolen From Post Office Drop Box; “Lexington Police are looking for a man who might be able to help them figure out where dozens of stolen Christmas cards containing gift cars ended up before the holiday.”

• NOVAJO COUNTY, New Mexico: Arizona Journal – Two Suspects Are Arrested In Connection With Mail Thefts; “The thefts of a large quantity of mail from mailboxes in the Snowflake and Show Low areas have been under investigation by the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Postal Inspection Service, and two suspects are now in custody.”

• GULFPORT, Mississippi: Sun Herald – Man gets prison after mail, identities stolen in Harrison County; “A Georgia man has admitted his role in the theft of mail in Harrison County and the use of stolen identities to make counterfeit checks for purchases at Wal-Mart stores while he lived in Gulfport.”

• OMAHA, Nebraska: McCook Gazette – Arapahoe woman indicted on mail theft charge; “The woman, Ashley D. Rupp, 26, is charged with theft of mail on or about Nov. 4, 2015.”

• ANCHORAGE, Alaska: KTUU – Months-long spree of mail thefts continues in Hillside neighborhood; “This lead Nelson and others to upgrade to locked mailboxes. “We decided to go invest in a more expensive locking box, and at least for us that has seemed to have done the trick,” Nelson said. This hasn’t been true for everyone in the neighborhood as Nelson points out a few mailboxes that were pried open.”

Jan. 27:

• GULFPORT, Mississippi: WSBTV.com – George man gets prison after mail, identities stolen; “Prosecutors have said the conspiracy ran between Oct. 4, 2013, and Nov. 18, 2014, and involved the use of victims’ names and bank routing numbers to produce counterfeit checks. The fake checks were used to buy gift cards, prepaid credit cards, electronics, food and clothing, and in at least one instance, motel expenses.”
• CAMPBELL, California: San Jose Mercury News – Campbell Police Blotter; “Mail theft–Jan. 18. Capri Drive. During the night, someone pried open locked mailboxes and stole packages and mail.”
• LAS VEGAS, Nevada: News3LV.com – WATCH: Postal Inspectors release new video and images of local mail theft; “U.S. Postal Inspectors are releasing information that could help track down the suspect or suspects possibly responsible for a rash of mailbox thefts in the Las Vegas Area.”

Jan. 28:

• ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico: KOAT.com – Identity thieves target mailboxes, mail carriers; “Thieves are targeting Albuquerque mailboxes in search of W-2s to steal people’s identities.”
• COVINGTON, Washington: Maple Valley Reporter – Mail thefts reported in Covington, Maple Valley; “But even a month after the holiday season ended, The Reporter has been receiving a number of letters regarding the ongoing mail theft in Covington and Maple Valley.”
• BERNALILLO COUNTY, New Mexico: Albuquerque Journal – Bernalillo County hit with rash of mail thefts; “Mail theft is not that uncommon. Thieves smash mailboxes and make off with the contents – often looking for documents that help steal someone’s identity.”

Jan. 29:

• SAN JOSE, California: ABC 7 – Postal inspectors investigating rash of mail theft in south San Jose neighborhood: Residents are very concerned and worried after finding mail thieves broke into more than 100 mailboxes overnight; “The thieves are bold and fearless who have stolen from more than 100 families near the Ranch Golf Club.”
• KOOTENAI COUNTY, Idaho: CDAPress.com – Mail, newspaper thefts happening throughout county; “On Jan. 21, a woman walking her dogs on Sunnyside Road near Timothy Lane in Coeur d’Alene reported finding multiple mail items in the snow. Several pieces of mail were opened, such as Christmas cards, mail regarding financial information and DVD rentals. The mail was addressed to several residences in the East Borley Road and South Chelsea Lane neighborhoods and could have been stolen between Dec. 22 and Jan. 21.”
• VENTURA, California: Ventura County Star – 2 Ventura women accused of countywide mail theft; “Moore was determined to be on probation, and a large amount of stolen mail was found in the vehicle, officials said. More than 20 people had mail stolen in the Oak View area, officials said.”
• OJAI, California: VenturaEdHat.com – Ojai Detectives Seek Identity Theft Suspect; “During the dates of January 5-13, 2016, a resident of the unincorporated area of Ventura County/Ojai reported being a victim of mail theft. Included in the stolen mail was a Costco American Express credit card.”
• THE BRONX, New York: Pix11.com – Thieves go fishing — literally — inside NYC mailboxes; “They were fishing for stolen mail, but they ended being the ones who got caught — by cops. Three suspects were arrested last week after officers observed them hanging around mailboxes on a number of corners in the Bronx early in the morning.”
• CONCORD, California: KRON 4 – Video: Suspect stealing mail from Concord residents; “He said in this case, several envelopes were clipped to the mailbox. “They’re looking for money, they’re looking for other personal items, anything valuable they can sell or…they can use for their benefit,” Blakely said. Some residents are concerned their mail may have been stolen.”
• SAN ANTONIO, Texas: FOX San Antonio – Caught on Camera: Man steals package from mailbox; “Alamo Heights Police need your help tracking down a man who was caught on camera stealing a package from a mailbox.”

Jan. 30:

• VENTURA, California: Ventura County Star – Ventura police warn residents of recent mail theft; “Police warned Friday of mail theft in a Ventura hillside neighborhood. Mail theft incidents were reported Friday at residences in the area of Brodiea Avenue, Ventura police said.”
• ORMOND BEACH, Florida: Ormond Beach Observer – Victim suspects mail theft and other crime news; “The victim said he sent in for a replacement debit card a week ago and the new card has not shown up in the mail so it may have been stolen from the mailbox.”
• HILLSIDE, Alaska: KTVA Alaska – Hillside residents frustrated with months of mail theft; “Hillside residents are frustrated. They say their mailboxes are getting hit by thieves two or three times every week.”