Mail-Identity Theft: February 2016

Mail thieves aggressively targeting mailboxes nationwide

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 in 2016, and area targeting unlocked and low security locking mailboxes stealing sensitive information for fraud and identity theft.

Below you will find an interactive map of mail theft activity from February 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=4]
With tax season in full swing, we don’t expect this trend to decline. 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:

Feb. 1:

• ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico: KRQE 13 – Police ask public to help ID suspect in mailbox theft; “The Albuquerque Police Department is seeking the public’s help in catching thieves that broke into mailboxes and stole information from two New Mexico residents. The suspect has purchased thousands of dollars with fake ID’s and fraud credit cards, according to police.”
• PENDLETON, Oregon: East Oregonian – Public Safety Log: Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016; “Friday: 10:01 a.m. – The Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office received another report of possible mail theft on Despain Gulch Road, Pendleton. Saturday: 10:01 a.m. – A woman reported mail theft on Adams Road, Pendleton.”
• OXNARD, California: Ventura County Star – Oxnard man arrested after mail stolen; “An Oxnard man was arrested on Monday on suspicion of identity theft, Ojai police said. Police said someone told them in early January that their mail, including a credit card, had been stolen.”
• TORRANCE, California: Daily Breeze – Police Log: Carson and Torrance crime reports; “Mail theft: 3:05-5 p.m. Jan. 21, 1500 block of El Prado Avenue. Outgoing mail was reported stolen from a mailbox.”
• VENTURA COUNTY, California: CrimeVoice.com – Identity Thieves Busted with Stolen Mail; “The sad fact that there are people out there actively stealing mail for the sole purpose of gathering that data was in evidence on January 13th, when, according to the January 29th report filed by Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Det. Joe Mulrooney, VCSD deputies working out of the Ojai Valley Substation conducted a routine traffic stop in downtown Ojai.”

Feb. 2:

• SUMMERLIN, Las Vegas: KTNV.com – Neighbors say they are fed up with mailbox break-ins; “Neighbors throughout Summerlin are reporting mailbox break-ins.We saw two broken mailboxes Tuesday, but heard there are as many as 30 that have been broken dating back to December.”
• WALNUT CREEK, California: EastCountyToday.net – Antioch Man Arrested in Walnut Creek for Mail Theft; “The Walnut Creek Police Department announced the arrest of an Charlie Patterson, 30 of Antioch, who is suspected of stealing mail.”

• LAKESIDE, California: 10News.com – Thieves raid mailbox, leave something behind; “Surveillance video captured a woman ransacking mailboxes in Lakeside, but the real surprise came when one homeowner looked inside one of the mailboxes and found neighbors’ mail.”

Feb. 3:

• MERCER ISLAND, Washington: Mercer Island Reporter – Mercer Island Police Blotter; “Jan. 11 Mail theft: Five victims said their mailboxes were broken into in the 3200 block of 90th Place SE. […] Jan. 14 Theft: An Island woman had a payroll packet stolen out of her mail in the 4300 block of Fernbrook Drive. Jan. 15 Fraud: An Island woman in the 7800 block of SE 28th St. said that since her mailbox was broken into three months ago, many credit cards have been opened in her name and many credit card applications have been denied. She put a hold on her line of credit.”
• QUEENS, New York: QNS.com – Gang members fished mailboxes for checks in fraud scheme: DA; “Police hooked and sunk a check fraud ring involving 11 alleged members of a street gang who allegedly stole checks from local mailboxes in south Queens, then altered and cashed them in, prosecutors announced on Wednesday.”
• EDMONDS, Washington: MyEdmondsNews.com – Edmonds Police Blotter, Jan. 25-Feb.1; “Jan. 28 8400 block 240th Street Southwest: Found property consisting of mail and other personal property turned in to Edmonds PD for safekeeping. […] Jan. 30 22000 block 9th Place West: Report of stolen mail.”

Feb. 4:

• WEST SEATTLE, Washington: West Seattle Blog – West Seattle Crime Watch: Westwood mail theft; “Via text, a Westwood-area resident reported: “At 6:45 am on my way to work I noticed mail along 26th SW and 25th SW by SW Thistle. Looks like someone made a spree in opening mailboxes and getting mail and I even saw a few packages open.””
• ANNAPOLIS, Maryland: Capital Gazette – Multi-unit mailbox stolen in Annapolis; “While the motive for the theft remained unknown Thursday morning, police spokeswoman Cpl. Amy Miguez raised the possibilities that it could have been stolen in some kind of identity theft scheme or to be scrapped at a metal recycling center for money.”
• PORT ORCHARD, Washington: Central Kitsap Reporter – Court report (Feb. 5, 2016); “A 42-year-old Bremerton man was charged with possession of methamphetamine. The man had a felony warrant out of Seattle for mail theft. A BPD officer observed the man and a women in a parked car at 1:33 a.m. Feb. 2. The officer observed the man discretely attempt to reach his right pocket, but the man claimed he wasn’t reaching for anything. The officer asked him to exit the vehicle and later found a glass meth pipe on his seat. Bail was set at $20,075.”
• SACRAMENTO COUNTY, California: CBS Sacramento – Mail Theft Suspect Posing As Postal Worker In Sacramento Neighborhood; “A phony postal worker is accused of stealing mail in a Sacramento neighborhood. Federal investigators say they’re looking for a suspect wearing a fake mail carrier uniform that’s targeting unsuspecting residents in Del Paso Heights.”
• DELANO, California: Kern Golden Empire – Delano police said the Post Office doesn’t care about stolen mail case; “Delano Police have arrested a man they said was stealing mail.”
• SAN ANTONIO, Texas: News4SA.com – Protect yourself against mail theft; “You often hear of scammers trying to target you online, but criminals are also on the lookout for your snail mail.”
• HUMBOLDT COUNTY, California: Lost Coast Outpost – Stolen Mail From Nearly 70 Homes in Eureka, Arcata and McKinleyville Discovered After Home Probation Search; “Deputies located a clear zippered bag with mail inside of it in Page’s bedroom. The mail did not belong to Page, but to approximately 60-70 different residences (people). Most of the mail was from Eureka but there was also mail from Mckinleyville and Arcata. There were W-2’s, credit cards, ID’s, checks, and other miscellaneous mail.”

• COACHELLA, California: KESQ.com – Two men arrested for alleged mail theft in Coachella; “A 17-year-old man and 22-year-old Eduardo Diaz-Delgado, both from Perris, were arrested for felony mail theft and conspiracy.”

• HANFORD, California: Hanford Sentinel – HPD: Man arrested with cache of stolen mail, passport; “Police said Dorame was on probation for vehicle theft and possessing stolen property. The officer searched the Jeep and found burglary and vehicle theft tools including bolt cutters, a pry bar and shaved keys. The search also uncovered a bag with a passport and hundreds of pieces of mail belonging to victims of a prior identity theft case.”
  

• SACRAMENTO, California: ABC 10 – Sacramento resident catches fake postal worker on video; “Sacramento Police are looking for a man impersonating a postal worker, and stealing mail from homes in north Sacramento.”

• DELANO, California: ABC 23 – Delano Police arrest man for mail theft; “Ceja was found in possession of several pieces of U.S. Mail that was not addressed to him or his residence of record.”

• BREA, California: The Orange County Register – Woman accused of stealing O.C. mail arrested; “Two women in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were arrested on suspicion of stealing mail from at least 10 different people around Orange County, police said.”

• BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Michigan: Bloomfield Patch – Why Using Unsecured Mailbox Is a Bad Idea; “A Bloomfield Township resident learned a hard lesson about opportunistic criminals, according to the police blotter released Thursday by township police. After returning home on Jan. 27, the victim found an opened mailbox with no mail inside, despite assurances from postal authorities that mail had been delivered to the address in the 1200 block of Marymar.”

• OGDEN, New York: TWCNews.com – Ogden Police Warn Residents Mail Theft Is On The Rise; “Officer Travis Gray says the department has several open cases under investigation. He says criminals are stealing mail directly from residential mailboxes.”

Feb. 5:

• OCEAN SHORES, Washington: KBKW – Ocean Shores Police warning of recent mail theft; “The Ocean Shores Police Department is warning about a series of mail thefts that have been occurring lately.”
• RIVERSIDE COUNTY, California: Banning-Beaumont Patch – Increase in RivCo Mail Thefts Prompts Police Warning: The sheriff’s department this year has received an unusually high number of reports of mail theft countywide; “Harris said deputies and postal inspectors do what they can to recover stolen mail, but the first line of defense against thieves are residents who remain vigilant.”
• FREMONT, California: MercuryNews.com – Police Blotter: Woman arrested at hotel for possession stolen mail; “46100 block of Research Avenue, 11:23 a.m. Jan. 30 A 35-year-old woman was arrested at a hotel for possessing stolen mail.”
• OCEAN SHORES, Washington: The North Coast News – Mail theft alert in Ocean Shores; “A news release from Police Sgt. Dave McManus said mail has been stolen from street mail mailboxes and from the drop box in from of the Post Office on Dolphin Avenue NE.”
• OGDEN, New York: WHEC 10 – Police discuss investigation into stolen mail; “Ogden police say several reports have come in this week about items that have been stolen from mailboxes along roads. Officers say this type of crime extends beyond Ogden — it’s happening county-wide — criminals going through mailboxes hoping to cash in on other people’s checks.”
• SAN FRANCISCO, California: SFGate.com – Mail theft rampant in SF’s Mission District; “Dozens of Mission District residents say mail theft is rife in the neighborhood with thieves stealing packages and personal information from easily-broken mailboxes and sometimes causing tens of thousands of dollars worth of damages.”
  

Feb. 6:

• MARION COUNTY, Oregon: Statesman Journal – Marion County criminal convictions, Feb. 2-5; “Blizzard, William Joseph: Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle, Mail Theft or Receipt of Stolen Mail, Feb. 2.”
• TULSA, Oklahoma: FOX 23 – Stolen vehicle investigation leads to drug, fraud arrests; “While investigating that theft, police found meth, marijuana, a credit card reader and stolen IDs in one of the rooms.”

Feb. 7:

• ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico: Albuquerque Journal – Protective measures can help stamp out mail theft; “Mail theft is a big thing right now, particularly since it’s tax season and scammers are trying to steal W-2 forms and other documents in hopes of stealing someone’s identity.”

Feb. 8:

• DELANO, California: CrimeVoice.com – Man Arrested for Mail Theft in Delano; “Police have arrested a man they said was stealing mail in Delano on Tuesday morning.”
• UMATILLA COUNTY, Oregon: East Oregonian – Public Safety Log: Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016; “3:29 p.m. – A man told the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office his neighbor’s mail was all over the ground on Despain Gulch Road, Pendleton. The caller said he picked up the mail and put it in his car. The sheriff’s office received other calls last week about mail theft in that area.”
• ELK GROVE, California: CBS Sacramento – Why is My Replacement Credit Card After Fraud Already Activated? “Upset considering his prior card was compromised, Jason called Chase. “I asked them, ‘do you realize that this is promoting crime?’” He’s concerned it’ll only drive bad guys to break into mailboxes.”
• HANFORD, California: Hanford Sentinel – Police: Parolee had stolen mail, checks, credit cards; “The search recovered the stolen items, which belonged to multiple victims in Hanford and rural Kings County. Police said some of the residents had already reported the mail theft to the Kings County Sheriff’s Office.”

• WICHITA, Kansas: KWCH 12 – Mail suspected of being stolen from drop box in S. Wichita: Drop box near Pawnee and Seneca; “Now, it’s suspected the mail was stolen. One man told FactFinder 12 he sent out two tax payments in January using the drop box in front of the Chisholm Post Office.”

• SAN FRANCISCO, California: ABC 7 News – Searching for San Francisco Home Mail Theft Suspect: A $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of a man accused of taking mail from a San Francisco home while wearing a PG&E vest; “Do you know this man? There’s a $10,000 reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction, after he was recorded taking mail from a San Francisco home while wearing a PG&E vest.”

Feb. 9:

• EL CENTRO, California: KXORadio.com – Identity Theft Suspect Arrested; “Investigators located and recovered several items associated with mail theft , forgery of checks , credit cards and other evidence. Stolen mail , identities and other evidence pointed to multiple victims from throughout Imperial County.”
• BIG LAKE, Minnesota: Star Tribune – Suspects sought in rash of central Minnesota mail thefts; “Workers in Big Lake discovered the theft on the morning of Feb. 3 when the went to collect mail that had been dropped off overnight. A lock on the back side of the box had been broken and the box’s contents removed.“
• WASILLA, Alaska: Alaska Dispatch News – Charges: Wasilla woman had 1,600 pieces of stolen mail; “Prosecutors filed a plea agreement the same day. It says Friend had the stolen mail between November 2014 and March 2015, and she knew the 1,600 pieces of mail found at her home were stolen from mailboxes or post office boxes in Wasilla, Palmer, Houston and Chugiak.”
• ISSAQUAH, Washington: The Issaquah Press – Issaquah police blotter; “Vandalism: Someone caused $100 in damage to a mailbox in the 5200 block of 229th Avenue Southeast sometime before 6:13 p.m. Feb. 1. Mail theft: A resident in the 22700 block of Southeast 56th Street reported at 9:32 a.m. Feb. 2 that mail had been stolen. A resident in the 200 block of Southeast Bush Street reported at 11:20 a.m. Feb. 3 that mail had been stolen.”
• KENNEWICK, Washington: KEPRtv.com – Kennewick police looking for mail thief; “Kennewick police say they are looking for the person/s involved in stealing mail from several unlocked mailboxes in the 3600 block of W. 12 Avenue Monday night.”
• ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico: KOB.com – Some neighbors fed up after continuing mailbox thefts; “This month alone, KOB reported mail thieves striking in several areas. Video surveillance caught a couple trying to open a cluster box, as did another video, which caught thieves in a green Jeep helping themselves to mail at Osceola Energy.”

Feb. 10:

• CHELMSFORD, Massachusetts: Chelmsford Patch – Police Log: Stolen Mail; “At 10:04 a.m., a person came into the police station to report mail had been stolen.”
• MIAMI, Florida: Miami Herald – Crime Watch: Thieves target tax documents delivered by mail; “People don’t understand that “walkers” follow mail carriers and look through your mail for any bonanza they can find. Mail thieves know the prime time is between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Others take advantage of the dark of night and/or consumers’ tendencies of not checking mailboxes each day.”
• SAMMAMISH, Washington: Sammamish Review – Police ask for help with rash of mail thefts in Sammamish; “Between Dec. 14 and Feb. 10, Sammamish police received 33 reports of mail theft, Detective Bill Albright said. The thieves are using a flat head screwdriver or a pry bar of some kind to open the mailboxes. They are hitting mostly the southern portion of the city, but reports have come in from all around Sammamish, Albright said.”
• INLAND EMPIRE, California: InlandNewsToday.com – Mail thieves could get more jail time; “Local authorities may be getting some help in their campaign against the plague of mail thefts.”
• AMARILLO, Texas: MyHighPlains.com – Mail Thefts in City View; “There is a video showing what appears to be a light colored SUV pulling up to a mail box during the night time hours and taking mail out of the box. One witness reports that the vehicle may be occupied by two females.”
• RIVERSIDE COUNTY, California: MyValleyNews.com – RIVCO: Sen. Calvert’s Mail theft bill would double penalty if passed; “A Riverside County Congressman today introduced a bill that would double the maximum penalty for stealing mail. “The disturbing growth in mail theft in my district, and particularly the theft of cluster box units, must be stopped,” said Rep. Ken Calvert, R- Corona. “The criminals who steal mail to conduct identity theft or for other purposes need to face greater consequences for their actions.” Calvert’s HR 4515, the “Ensuring the Safety of Our Mail Act,” would increase the current maximum federal sentence for a mail theft conviction from five to 10 years.”
• AMARILLO, Texas: Amarillo Globe News – APD probes City View mail theft; “A string of mail thefts in the City View area has police investigating, according to an Amarillo Police Department news release.”
• LOS ANGELES, California: CBS Los Angeles – Will Pre-Activated Credit Cards Encourage Mail Theft? “He’s concerned it’ll drive thieves to break into mailboxes. “It certainly is surprising to me to see that banks would do this,” he said.”
• BROKEN ARROW, Oklahoma: FOX 23 – Broken Arrow report shows increase in some crimes, drops in others; “A new year to year comparison of crime in Broken Arrow reveals a big increase in identity theft and mail fraud there. Mail theft numbers were four times higher in 2015 than they were in 2014, and identity theft more than doubled.”
• LAKE ELSINORE, California: MyValleyNews.com – Identity Theft suspect apprehended; “Riverside County Sheriffs Office, after an intense investigation, arrested one woman at the heart of a mail and identity theft ring.”

• RIVERSIDE, California: The Press Enterprise – RIVERSIDE: Citizen points police to pursuit suspect; “A concerned citizen helped Riverside police catch a man who they say was driving a stolen vehicle and had methamphetamine in his possession. The citizen flagged a patrol officer down about 8:10 a.m. to tell the officer that a group was driving around his neighborhood near Stover Street and Arlington Avenue and stealing mail, Riverside police said in a Facebook post.”

Feb. 11:

• GRASS VALLEY, California: The Union – Police blotter; “7:04 p.m. — A caller from the 400 block of Brunswick Road reported a man messing with outdoor mailboxes, who took property. 4:50 p.m. — A caller from the 15000 block of Mount Olive Road reported mail theft. 5:37 p.m. — A caller from the 12000 block of Rodriguez Court reported mail theft.”
• AUGUSTA, Maine: CentralMaine.com – Mail theft, bank fraud send former Augusta man to prison for 30 months: Jacob R. Choate, 27, was sentenced in federal court Thursday for his role in a scheme to steal checks and cash them; “In documents filed in court, Assistant U.S. Attorney James M. Moore said the U.S. Postal Service uncovered Choate’s involvement in the scheme while investigating complaints of stolen mail and reports of cashed stolen checks.”

• ROGERS, Arkansas: 4029tv.com – Clues sought after mailbox thefts at Rogers apartments: More than 140 residents find mailboxes opened; “More than 140 residents at the Ranch at Pinnacle Point apartments in Rogers found their mailboxes broken into Thursday.”

• SAMMAMISH, Washington: KOMO 4 – Mail thieves aggressively target locked metal mailboxes; “The community of Sammamish has become a target for thieves who are using a simple tool to plunder locked metal mailboxes that are supposed to be more secure.”

Feb. 12:

• AMARILLO, Texas: Myhighplains.com – Amarillo Police Find Vehicle Used in City View Mail Theft, No Arrests; “APD 4th shift PACE officers continued the investigation into the suspected white SUV involved in mail thefts in the City View area. Officers located the vehicle in a driveway in the 800 block of S Alabama. Upon checking the license plate, the vehicle had been reported stolen on February 7.”
• SEATTLE, Washington: Maple Leaf Life – Mail theft at NE 102nd; “Witnessed a middle-aged Caucasian woman w/glasses and green top taking mail from multiple mailboxes along 15th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 102 Street around noon. SPD responded in person. Thank you. She was driving a similar Ford U haul van with Arizona plates.”
• HIGHLAND, California: The Sun – Hundreds of stolen mail, credit cards, forged checks found in Highland; “During a search of the vehicle, deputies located hundreds of what they believe to be stolen mail, stolen credit cards, stolen and fake social security cards, stolen and forged checks, counterfeit U.S. currency and computer equipment to create false documents, sheriffs’s officials said.”
• LAKEWOOD, Washington: Q13 Fox – Brazen mail thieves cruise Lakewood neighborhood, hitting one house after another; “Mail thieves were caught on camera stealing from one Lakewood neighborhood, and one neighbor caught them driving up and down the block hitting individual houses.”
• WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Rapids Tribune – Caller reports stolen mail; “At 12:37 p.m. Thursday, a caller reported someone stole a package from the 400 block of Two Mile Avenue. At 7:09 p.m. Thursday, a caller reported someone stole prescription medications from the 4600 block of Eighth Street South.”
• ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico: KOAT.com – Many miffed by mangled mailboxes; “While the Postal Inspection Service works to track down the crooks, USPS says it’s trying to keep up with repairing and replacing the boxes. But because there are so many, officials say it could take as much as six weeks to catch up.”
• AMARILLO, Texas: Amarillo Globe-News – Police find SUV used in mail theft; “On Tuesday, officers were called to a theft in the area, and obtained a video showing what appears to be a light-colored SUV pulling up to a mailbox at night and an occupant taking mail out of the box.”
• ARAB, Alabama: WHNT 19 – Arab Police say man admits to stealing mail out of mailboxes for identity theft; “Officers say Davis was carrying  mail. “He admitted to taking mail out of mailboxes. He said his intent was to use the information for identity theft to possibly gain credit cards in other people’s names,” Washburn explains, “You know how you get a lot of mail from the credit cards that will have your information in there, so basically he had all the information he needed to fill that out in somebody else’s name.””
• HIGHLAND, California: The Press Enterprise – HIGHLAND: Traffic stop leads to identity theft arrests; “San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department deputies found hundreds of pieces of stolen mail, credit cards, forged checks, counterfeit currency, fake Social Security cards and computer equipment to create false documents when they made a traffic stop early Friday, Feb. 12, in Highland, according to a sheriff’s news release.”
• BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, Washington: Bainbridge Review – Bainbridge blotter; “10:04 a.m. A woman was walking along NE Spargur Loop Road near Phelps Road NE discovered a neatly stacked pile of mail that was partially torn up. She collected the mail and went home and called 911.”

Feb. 13:

• ROCHESTER, New York: Democrat & Chronicle – Police Blotter: Petit larceny; “Brockport: Someone stole mail from a mailbox on Holley Street during the overnight hours of Feb. 2. Ogden: Someone stole a check from a mailbox on Gillett Road on Feb. 3.”
• SHAKOPEE, Minnesota: Skakopee Valley News – UPDATE: Shakopee police report; “Mail theft was reported at 5:20 p.m. on the 6900 block of Bass Court.”
• VICTORVILLE, California: Daily Press – Mail theft on the rise: Rural areas targeted more frequently; “Mail theft appears to be on the rise in the Victor Valley and throughout Southern California, with San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and U.S. Postal Service officials urging residents to take precautionary measures to secure their mail. However, several residents claim there isn’t much being done to deter thieves.”

Feb. 14:

• COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado: Gazette.com – Colorado Springs residents concerned about mail thefts after reports of numerous break-ins; “Mailbox thefts are a problem across Colorado Springs, police said. There were 53 thefts of mail or packages citywide between December and Feb. 11, according to most recent data.”
• BUTTE COUNTY, California: ActionNewsNew.com – BCSO: Mail thief arrested in Durham; “According to investigators, deputies found several pieces of mail in the SUV. They also found identification cards, checks, and other items belonging to several victims. Heroin and Methamphetamine were also found in the vehicle, according to authorities. “
• KENNEWICK, Washington: KEPRtv.com – Police warn residents about recent mail thefts; “Kennewick Police are now warning residents of recent mail box thefts. Last week, there were two incidents of mail thefts in just two days.”

Feb. 15:

• CHICO, California: ChicoER.com – Mail theft suspect arrested in Durham; “A 24-year-old Chico man was arrested on suspicion of mail theft Thursday in Durham after residents watched his activities and driving. Butte County Sheriff officers stopped Brandon Amundsen in the area of Oro Chico Highway, south of Lott Road, and reportedly located several pieces of mail in his black SUV. Some of the mail contained Lott Road addresses.”
• SUNNYSLOPE, Washington: KPQ.com – Mail Thieves Target Sunnyslope; “The Chelan County Sheriff’s Department reports the theft of mail from more than 15 mailboxes in the Sunnyslope area. Handfuls of junk mail have been found along the roadsides there, suggesting the thieves are sifting through the stolen mail in search of items containing sensitive personal information and discarding the rest.”
• AUSTIN, Texas: KEYETV.com – Police find possibly stolen mail in North Austin; “Inside the car police found mail addressed to other people all around Austin. APD is still investigating to determine if the mail was stolen.”
• NORTHPORT, Alabama: WVTM 13 – Northport police warn residents to watch mailboxes: Car seen driving to different mailboxes in Northport, authorities said; “Investigators said they see an increase in thefts from mailboxes this time of year, when W2 and 1099 forms are mailed out. Police say thieves steal private information through such mail.”
• SAMMAMISH, Washington: Sammamish Review – Sammamish police blotter: Mail theft; “Police dealt with a rash of mail thefts around Sammamish in late January and early February.”
• AUSTIN, Texas: FOX 7 – Police investigating after mail found in man’s vehicle; “Austin police are investigating a man for the possibility of forgery after discovering mail in his vehicle.”
• DURHAM, California: ABC 7 – Alleged mail theft exposed after arrest of Chico man; “Deputies said they found heroin and methamphetamine in Amundsen’s vehicle as well as several pieces of mail. Some of the mail was from an address on Lott Road. Deputies also located several identification cards, checks and other identifying information belonging to several victims.”
• SONOMA, California: Rohnert Park-Cotati Patch – Sonoma Deputies Search for Woman Wanted On Warrants: The Sonoma Sheriff’s Office would like to speak with 36-year-old Silvia Dorman about cases involving mail theft, check fraud and ID theft; “Dorman has several felony and misdemeanor warrants out for her arrest. On a Facebook post, the Sheriff’s Office says it would like to talk to her about other cases involving mail theft, check fraud and ID theft.”

Feb. 17:

• BUTTE COUNTY, California: Gridley Herald – Butte County Sheriff’s Deputies arrest mail theft suspect; “On the morning of February 11, 2016, Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) North County Deputies were dispatched to the area of Oro Chico Highway and Lott Road, Durham to investigate a suspicious black SUV driving around in the area. The reporting party suspected the driver was stealing mail.”
• PAULS VALLEY, Oklahoma: KXII – Checks stolen from Garvin County mailboxes; “A string of thefts in Garvin County has the sheriff’s office asking for the public’s help.”

Feb. 18:

• CORONA, California: ABC 7 – Rampant Mail Thefts in Corona Lead to Delivery Shutdown; “Neither rain nor snow can stop the U.S. mail, but thieves, that’s another story. A community in Corona has found its postal delivery shut down after multiple reports of identity theft and letters being stolen from locked mailboxes.”
• BAKERSFIELD, California: Kern Golden Empire – Local homeowner’s association takes a stand against mail theft; “Postal Service representative Jeffrey Fitch said the Postal Service is constantly accessing security and is in the process of upgrading some older locks with newer, more secure locks in theft-prone areas.”
• NAPA, California: Napa Valley Register – Woman arrested with stolen mail; “A woman was arrested by Napa County Sheriff’s deputies on Wednesday on suspicion of having stolen mail, police said.”
• WENTZVILLE, Missouri: KSDK.com – Mail stolen from Wentzville neighborhood; “Police are investigating several reports of stolen mail from a Wentzville subdivision, and angry neighbors say the thefts could have been prevented.”
• WASILLA, Alaska: KTUU – Door-to-door Wasilla meat salesman accused of major mail theft; “A door-to-door meat salesman from Wasilla is accused of stealing some 1,600 pieces of mail from people across the Mat-Su and in Chugiak.”
• SAN ANTONIO, Texas: KSAT – San Antonio man, woman charged in alleged mail theft scheme; “Michael McKinney, 31, and Jennifer Burns, 30, were allegedly caught with stolen mail, including stolen checks, from San Antonio mailboxes on June 28, 2015. Officials said the two had used information from stolen mail, changed the names on stolen checks and cashed the checks using counterfeit drivers’ licenses.”
• LAS VEGAS, Nevada: Las Vegas Review-Journal – Metro asks for public’s help in stopping mail theft; “Avery acknowledged the the Postal Service is “very concerned” about the growing problem of mailbox break-ins and mail theft. She said the crooks are looking for anything of value, such as checks, gift cards and personal identity documents.”
• PINEVILLE, Louisisana: TheTownTalk.com – Ruby-Kolin neighborhood meeting focuses on mail thefts, speeders; “Residents of the north Rapides Parish community have been reporting thefts of their mail or their entire mailboxes since just before Christmas. Stacey Nelson, the postmaster of the Deville Post Office, acknowledged the issue and the reports that have been made.”
• WEST SEATTLE, Washington: West Seattle Blog – West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen mail; “On Sunday 2/14, during our regular morning Neighborhood Watch patrol, we scared away a mail thief from the Explorer West Middle School (area). He left a pile of mail, from around the 10000 area of 30th Ave SW. We have dried out what we could salvage and are sending the remnants on to our neighbors.”

Feb. 19:

• WASILLA, Alaska: Alaska Native News – Wasilla Door to Door Meat Salesman Indicted for Stolen Mail, Firearms, Access Devices; “Investigators would determine that Taylor had negotiated stolen credit card checks and stolen bank checks from stolen mail at a local business and had obtained more than $6,000 in doing so.”
• HILLSIDE, Alaska: KTUU 2 – Man accused of stealing mail from Hillside homes, using stolen card at Target, Walmart; “Police say Evan Ryan Mullen raided mailboxes on Ginami Street and Upper Huffman Road in January. In one case, he stole an Amazon.com package and found a credit card that he used to buy $1,248.51 worth of goods from Walmart and Target, according to the charges.”
• NAPA, California: Napa Valley Register – Three suspects arrested in fraud, mail theft case; “Three suspects have been arrested in connection to a mail theft that was reported on Redwood Road in Napa in late January, according to the Napa County Sheriff’s Office.”
• TEMESCAL VALLEY, California: The Press Enterprise – Mail theft stops delivery for 1,500; “A neighborhood in the unincorporated community of Temescal Valley has seen an extreme uptick in mail theft recently that has caused the U.S. Postal Service to shut down delivery to about 1,500 customers.”
• UPPER WEST SIDE, New York: DNA Info – Scammers ‘Fishing’ for Checks in Upper West Side Mailboxes; “Scammers have targeted a series of mailboxes in the neighborhood, using a sticky substance to “go fishing” for mail, then opening the items and cashing any checks they find, police said.”

Feb. 20:

• CALHOUN COUNTY, South Carolina: TheTandD.com – Minivan driver spotted taking mail from boxes; “A resident of Monarch Road near Swansea reported Feb. 12 that he observed someone driving a gray Kia minivan with a paper tag pull up to his and his neighbor’s mailboxes and remove mail.”
• WASILLA, Alaska: Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman – Wasilla mail theft case draws federal attention; “Timothy W. Taylor, 36, of Wasilla faces counts of possession of stolen firearms, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of stolen mail, possession and use of access devices obtained from the stolen male, fraud and aggravated identity theft.”
• ROSEVILLE, California: Roseville Today – Roseville Flash Crime Report; “Officers found both the door to the mail room and the mailboxes inside pried open.”

Feb. 21:

• SEATTLE, Washington: Maple Leaf Life – More mail thefts reports; “On Friday night, February 19th, at 10:45 p.m. I stepped outside (corner of 8th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 103rd  Street) and saw a blue truck with a covered bed, man driving and woman in the passenger seat, stop at our mailbox bank. She saw me and he sped off towards Roosevelt. I have never seen this truck in the past and it was obvious that they were there to steal mail.”
• CANFIELD, Ohio: Vindy.com – Police Calls in Canfield; “Feb. 8:Mail theft: A package was reported stolen at a home in the 70 block of Maple Street.”

Feb. 22:

• SAMMAMISH, Washington: Sammamish Review – Sammamish police blotter; “The police report was straight and to the point: “Mail theft from locked mailboxes.” The theft happened Feb. 7 in the 3900 block of 202nd Place Southeast. A mailbox was pried open Feb. 8 in the 4000 block of East Lake Sammamish Parkway. Police said it was unclear if any mail was stolen. Again, it was unknown if any mail was taken Feb 9 when thieves struck a mailbox on Southeast 37th Street.”
• NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska: North Platte Bulletin – Alleged mail thief arrested; “Richard Valentine of North Platte was arrested Friday, Feb. 19 and charged with a series of crimes, including forgery and theft of items from mailboxes around the area.”

Feb. 23:

• LAKEPORT, California: Record-Bee – Mail reported stolen Sunday night in Lakeport; “Law enforcement officials are investigating multiple counts of mail theft from residential mail boxes in the city of Lakeport. The thefts were reported on Sunday night.”
• LAKEPORT, California: Lake County News – Lakeport Police Department reports on mail theft cases; “The Lakeport Police Department reported that multiple counts of mail theft have taken place within the city limits last week and over the weekend.”

Feb. 24:

• COWLEY COUNTY, Kansas: Winfield Daily Courier – Sheriff’s office warns of phone scams, mail theft; “Mailbox thefts are also on the rise. Criminals steal the contents from a victim’s mailbox to gain checks or personal information, according to Moore.”
• MARTINEZ, California: Contra Costa Times – Concord, Clayton, Martinez, Pleasant Hill police reports: Feb. 11-17; “ETTY THEFT — Mail was reported stolen at 10:03 and 10:10 a.m. on Westaire Boulevard. PETTY THEFT — Mail was reported stolen at 2:53 p.m. on Ashwood Drive.”
• EDEN PRAIRIE, Minnesota: Eden Prairie News – Possible mail theft reported; “An Eden Prairie woman reported that someone possibly tampered with or stole mail from mailboxes belonging to her and some of her neighbors between 3 and 5:30 p.m. Feb. 19 in the 8000 block of Darnel Road.”

Feb. 25:

• CHICO, California: KRCR 7 – Police search for mail thief dressed as postal worker; “Chico police are looking for a man who dressed up as a U.S. postal carrier and stole mail from a local business.”
• SANTA MONICA, California: Santa Monica Daily Press – Bloomingdale’s shoplifting suspect found with meth pipe, stolen mail; “During a search incident to arrest, officers located a methamphetamine pipe and several unopened pieces of mail addressed to someone other than Rodriguez.”

Feb. 26:

• LOUISVILLE, Kentucky: WDRB.com – Thieves raiding mail boxes, stealing checks in several Ky. counties; “Thieves are stealing mail from mailboxes in at least four Kentucky counties, and are cashing in on people’s checks. “We finally figured out that these people were stealing mail out of mailboxes at random — just all over — we have cases in Bullitt, Hardin, Breckinridge and Grayson, where they’ve stolen all this mail.”
• EDEN PRAIRIE, Minnesota: Sun Current – Eden Prairie Police receive mail theft reports; “Officers are investigating a tamper with mail report at the 8000 block of Darnel Road in Eden Prairie.”
  
• STOCKTON, California: Recordnet.com – 911 Calls (Feb. 26, 2016); “Two people were arrested after deputies found a “large amount” of mail inside of a vehicle parked in an orchard, sheriff’s officials said. Deputies found the car about 8:40 p.m. Wednesday on the 10600 block of Alpine Road. In the car, deputies found mail, checks, bank cards, identification cards and documents with personal information, officials said.”
• ROSEVILLE, California: Rocklin & Roseville Today – Roseville Flash Crime Report (2.25.16); “Foothills Junction, mail theft:  Sometime before 5 a.m. February 22, someone broke into community cluster mailboxes in the area of Rand Way and Foothills Boulevard. Mail was scattered on the ground, and it’s unknown what mail was taken.”
• CHINO HILLS, California: The Press Enterprise – CHINO HILLS: Mail theft suspects used Uber as getaway car; “Two people suspected of stealing mail in Chino Hills tried using using Uber as a getaway vehicle, authorities said.”
• ARVADA, Colorado: FOX 31 – Post office stops delivering mail to residents of Arvada apartment complex; “Unfortunately, mail theft has been an ongoing issue for some residents of Castlegate Apartments. “I’ve had mail coming up missing several times on different occasions,” said Rebecca Forrest, who lives at Castlegate. The thefts and break-ins are why, nearly four weeks ago, the U.S. Postal Service stopped delivering mail to Forrest and nearly 100 other residents. There was just one problem.”
• BROOKINGS, Oregon: Curry Pilot – Court Report Feb. 27, 2016; “Joshua Loren VanHoorebeke, born 1988, of Gold Beach, pleaded not guilty to 18 charges of identity theft, 12 of mail theft or receipt of mail, and one charge each of possession of methamphetamine, third degree theft and providing false information for a citation. A four-day trial is slated to begin April 13.”
• PICKENS COUNTY, South Carolina: WYFF4.com – Deputies charge 2 people, seek one in connection with mail thefts; “The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office said they have been investigating several incidents of mail theft and suspicious activity from residential mailboxes in the Dacusville/Easley area that have been occurring over the past five weeks.”

• EASLEY, South Carolina: Live5News.com – Deputies: 3rd suspect arrested in Pickens Co. mail theft ring; “The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday that the third suspect had been arrested in connection with several incidents of mail theft.”

Feb. 27:

• CHINO HILLS, California: Daily Bulletin – Bloomington pair suspected of mail theft in Chino Hills, tried to escape by Uber, deputies say; “Authorities allege Goode and Sanchez were in Chino Hills to steal mail and that the Uber driver was not involved. They were booked at West Valley Detention Center.”

Feb. 28:

• WEST SEATTLE, Washington: West Seattle Blog – Dear Package Thieves: 2 West Seattleites have messages for you; “Hey, package thieves! If you’re reading this … we have messages from two recent targets.”

Feb. 29:

• BELGRADE, Montana: Bozeman Daily Chronicle – Mail theft suspect arrested for assaulting officer; “A Belgrade woman who has four pending felony cases, including one accusing her of stealing thousands of dollars worth of mail from area boxes, was arrested on assault charges over the weekend.”