Mail Identity Theft – November 2014

Oh boy, the mail thieves have been busy this month, especially in the last couple of weeks. This time of year is when people start sending checks, gift cards, and other goodies in the mail, so crooks are on the prowl. Be sure to lock up your mailbox and take precautions when sending gifts through the mail. Remember, using a secure mailbox is important year round; it’s a total bummer if your Christmas cards get taken, but if your credit card information or other sensitive personal info falls into the wrong hands, you could become a victim of identity theft… and that can follow you are year long!

Nov. 2:

• SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, California: Post Periodical – Thieves ‘Fish’ for Mail in Post Office Collection Boxes

Nov. 3:

• SPOKANE VALLEY, Washington: OregonLive.com – Woman suspected of breaking into post office tells deputies she was ‘playing house’; late-night news roundup

Nov. 4:

• BRIDGEPORT, Connecticut: Shelton Herald – Man pleads guilty to stealing checks from people’s mailboxes

Nov. 5: 

• ROWAN COUNTY, North Carolina: Journal Patriot – Identity theft suspect arrested in remote area

Nov. 6:

• COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado: KRDO.com – Caught on camera: Woman stealing mail from mailbox

Nov. 7: 

• LAS VEGAS, Nevada: JRN.com – Neighbors fed up with mailbox vandalism
• COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado: KRDO.com – Surveillance video expected to deliver mail thief to jail soon
• LIVINGSTON, California: Merced Sun-Star – Police suspect ID theft in arrests of 2
• TALLAHASSEE, Florida: Tallahassee Democrat – Woman arrested in mail thefts after apparent balcony fall

Nov. 9:

• GRESHAM, Oregon: KATU.com – Christmas packages stolen from Gresham family’s front porch

Nov. 10:

• MONTLAKE, Washington: KIRO 7 – Stolen mail, cell phones found in car parked at abandoned house 
• DETROIT, Michigan: ABC 7 – Consumer Alert: Mail theft bust reveals new ID theft devices
• PLEASANTON, California: San Jose Mercury News – Pleasanton: Credit card fraud leads to arrest of four suspects with stolen mail, cars
• MAPLE VALLEY, Washington: Maple Valley Reporter – Maple Valley police provide theft protection tips
• PLEASANTON, California: Livermore Patch – Police: Four Arrested in Tri-Valley for Mail Theft, Car Burglary

Nov. 12:

• ARCATA, California: Times-Standard – Arcata police: Trespassing man arrested with stolen mail
• WARSAW, New York: The Buffalo News – Java woman arrested in mail theft
• ARCATA, California: KAEFTV 23 – Man found with stolen mail, ID’s in Arcata

• ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico: Albuquerque Journal – Woman linked to mail box, ID theft, sentenced

Nov. 14:

• PLEASANTON, California: The Independent – Four Arrested
• TUSCON, Arizona: KGUN 9 – Proactive policing stops possible fraud ring

Nov. 15:

• PIMA COUNTY, Arizona: KVOA.com – Identity theft ring uncovered in Pima County
• IRWINDALE, California: Pasadena Star-News – Irwindale police seek public help locating mail thief

• PILESGROVE TOWNSHIP, New Jersey: NJ.com – NJ State Police seeking suspected package thief in Pilesgrove Township

Nov. 16:

• IRWINDALE, California: CBS Los Angeles – Irwindale Police Investigating Mail Theft, Check Cashing

Nov. 17:

• TONASKET, Washington: Wenatchee World – Rash of mail theft reported in northern Okanogan County
• SAMMAMISH, Washington: Sky Valley Chronicle – Numerous Car Prowls and Mailbox Thefts in Sammamish Over the Weekend
• NEW YORK, New York: KTIV 4 – Consumer Alert: Mailboxes are prime targets for thieves

• LAKE FOREST PARK, Washington: Q13 FOX – Thieves hit more than 40 mailboxes in Lake Forest Park

Nov. 18:

• GRAND ISLAND, Nebraska: NBC Nebraska – GI Police Warn of Mail Theft
• REDMOND, Washington: Redmond-Reporter – Officers investigate thefts, burglaries | Police blotter for Nov. 11-17
• MANTECA, California: CBS San Francisco – Manteca Police Warn Residents Junk Mail Thieves Searching Trash For Identity Theft Material
• NEW CANAAN, Connecticut: New Canaan News – More than $12K in checks stolen from mailbox
• DURANGO, Colorado: The Durango Herald – Mailbox thefts increase during holiday season

Nov. 19:

• JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colorado: The Denver Post – Jeffco DA: 5 indicted in “mailboxing” identity theft ring
• BELLEFONTE, Pennsylvania: WeAreCentralPA.com – Police Investigating Package Thefts
• SEATTLE, Washington: KOMO 4 – Former identity thief shows off the tricks of the trade
• GOLDEN, Colorado: CBS Denver – Alleged ID Theft Ring Indicted, Accused Of Stealing Street-Side Mailbox
• VAIL, Arizona: Tuscon News – Mail thief on the loose in Vail

• NEW CANAAN, Connecticut: New Canaanite – Mailbox Larceny on Briscoe Road
• SEATTLE, Washington: KIRO 7 – Identity thief spills secrets on getting your personal information

• GOLDEN, Colordao: ABC 7 – Suspects in identity theft ring stole items from mailboxes to create fake IDs & cash checks: 3 arrested, 2 wanted

• FREMONT, California: CBS San Francisco – Fremont Police Seek Trio In Package Theft Caught On Video, May Be Driving SUV Registered To Dead Man

• JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colorado: 9News.com – JeffCo theft ring used stolen money for meth habits

Nov. 20:

• BOONE COUNTY, Kentucky: Cincinnati.com – Sheriff: Mail theft funding gang, drug activity
• LAKE FOREST, Illinois: NBC Chicago – Officials Investigate Reports of Mail Theft in Lake Forest
• BURLINGTON, Kentucky: WCPO 9 – Deputies: Gangs stealing mail in Boone County to fund drug trafficking

• HOUSTON, Texas: Cypress Creek Mirror – Fugitive sought in stolen identity refund fraud scheme

• HUNTINGTON BEACH, California: OCRegister.com – Have you seen this man? Huntington Beach police need help identifying mail thief

Nov. 21:

• SANTA MONICA, California: Santa Monica Daily Press – Crimewatch: Mail thief
• CAMARILLO, California: Camarillo Acorn – Sheriff’s Blotter
• NEW CANAAN, Connecticut: NCAdvertiser.com – Checks stolen from resident’s mailbox
• BLAINE, Washington: The Bellingham Herald- Blaine woman sentenced to prison for stealing mail from hundreds of homes
• SAMMAMISH, Washington: Issaquah Reporter – Sammamish Police Blotter Nov. 10-15
• HOLTS SUMMIT, Missouri: Fulton Sun – Holts Summit Police ask for public’s help locating stolen packages: Police continue search for stolen items after man admitted to stealing packages in multiple jurisdictions

• CONCORD, California: KTVU 2 – Surveillance video catches ‘porch pirates’ at Bay Area homes

• ERIE, Pennsylvania: YourErie.com – Police looking for theft suspects

Nov. 22:

• PINON HILLS, California: Victorville Daily Press – Postal service investigating mail thefts: Pinon Hills postmaster removes outside mailbox

Nov. 23:

• HOUSTON, Texas: Laredo Sun – Fugitive Sought in Stolen Identity Refund Fraud Scheme

Nov. 24:

• KNOXVILLE, Tennessee: WATE – Knoxville woman sentenced to 34 months in prison for fraud and identity theft
• KNOXVILLE, Tennessee: Knoxville News Sentinel – Identity thief sentenced to 34 months in prison

Nov. 25:

• BROOKLINE, Massachusetts: Wiked Local – Package theft in Brookline up 64 percent over last year
• REIDSVILLE, North Carolina: MyFox8.com – Rockingham County woman’s identity stolen through her mail
• CHICAGO, Illinois: MyFoxChicago.com – How to protect your holiday package-deliveries from being stolen
• GRETNA, Nebraska: WOWT – Checks From Stolen Mail Forged

Nov. 26:

• ROCKLIN, California: KCRA – Mail thefts increase in Granite Bay, Rocklin, Roseville: Police investigate mail thefts in Placer County communities
• PLACER COUNTY, California: KCRA – Officials report rise in Placer County mail thefts
• SANTA BARBARA, California: Santa Barbara Independent – Bag of Mail Stolen from Highway 246 Addresses Discovered in Hotel Suite
• BUELLTON, California: KEYT – Mail Theft Ring in Santa Barbara County: Suspects belived to have stolen credit card information
• REDMOND, Washington: Redmond Reporter – Officers investigate mail thefts | Police blotter for Nov. 24-25
• DECATUR, Georgia: Decaturish.com – Don’t Let the Grinch Steal Your Mail

• SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, California: KSBY – Two women wanted for mail theft in Santa Barbara County

Nov. 27:

• ROCKLIN, California: Rocklin Today – Mail Theft on Rise in Roseville and Rocklin

Nov. 28:

• PARIS, Indiana: Paris Beacon-News – Three face mail charges
• HOUSTON, Texas: Mail Online – Facebook to the rescue! How Texas homeowner used social media to track down package stolen from his doorstep

• BRIDGEPORT, Connecticut: Fairfield Daily Voice – Bridgeport Man Pleads Guilty To Stolen Check Scheme In Fairfield