Mail Theft Monday – 7/12/10

Juvenile Arrested In East Hartford Mail Thefts
The Hartford Courant – 7/8/10

(EAST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT) “Police arrested a juvenile male in an ongoing investigation into a rash of mail thefts in town.

About six residents have had mail stolen, East Hartford Police Officer Hugo Benettieri said. The thefts were near Burnham Street in the north end of town and in the south end of town, he said.

The juvenile, whose name is not being released because of his age, was charged with sixth-degree larceny and reckless burning for allegedly burning the stolen mail, police said.

He was released to his foster mother in East Hartford. He is scheduled to appear in Hartford Juvenile Court July 29, police said.

The U.S. Postal Service is assisting in the investigation.”

COMMENTS: In this case, because the juvenile burned the mail he doesn’t sound like the typical mail thief. Most mail thieves target unlocked (or poor quality locking) mailboxes to steal information they can then use for identity theft. The problem with mail theft is that most don’t realize when their mail has been stolen. Similarly, the majority of ID theft victims don’t know how their information was compromised. Because most ID theft occurs via low-tech methods (stolen wallets/mail/trash) using a high security locking mailbox like the Mail Boss is an important element of ID theft prevention.