Mail Identity Theft
Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the United States for the past 10 years, and affects over 10 million Americans each year.
Mail theft is a common way that identity thieves can steal your identity, and the 60 million unlocked mailboxes in the US offer a treasure trove of opportunity for would-be identity thieves.
Victims of mail theft often do not realize they have been victimized until their credit record and good name is ruined. Remedying the outcomes of fraud and identity theft requires thousands of dollars and hours of your time.
This section provides information about the prevalence of mail and identity theft, and the precautions you can take to protect yourself and your name.
Mail Identity Theft
- More than 1 in 20 Americans are victims of ID theft each year
- ID theft is the fastest growing crime in the nation
- Only 35% of ID theft victims know how their info was compromised
- The majority of known ID theft is perpetuated via low-tech methods: stolen wallets, stolen mail and stolen trash.
- Mail theft is highly under-reported because most people don’t realize when their mail has been stolen
Mail Identity Theft: Feb 25-Mar 10
Prescription drugs stolen from mailbox: Orange Police Blotter Chagrin Solon Sun – 3/10/11 (ORANGE, ILLINOIS) “THEFT FROM MAILS, BRAINARD ROAD: Police are investigating the apparent theft of prescription medication sent through the mail late last month. The victim was not sure if it was Feb. 25 or the next day that she found the ripped plastic mailer along the opposite…
Mail Identity Theft: 3/11/11-3/17/11
Castle Hills police: Mailbox theft ring clears out $15,000 in stolen checks KENS5 – 3/17/11 (CASTLE HILLS, TEXAS) “UPDATE: Thursday afternoon police arrested Justin Ayer, who is suspected to be the leader of an alleged mailbox theft ring. Ayer is now in custody. Castle Hills police are warning residents about an alleged mailbox crook. They say Justin Ayer is the…
Mail Identity Theft: 3/22/11-4/13/11
MAIL REPORTED STOLEN, LOW SECURITY LOCKING MAILBOXES BROKEN INTO, MAIL IDENTITY THIEVES ARRESTED, CHARGED and SENTENCED.
Mail Identity Theft: 4/14/11-5/3/11
West University Place Police Department blotter, May 2 Ultimate West U – 5/3/11 (HOUSTON, TEXAS) “[…] THEFT: April 26, 8 a.m.: Outgoing mail was reportedly stolen from a mailbox in the 2600 block of Werlein Avenue. […]” COMMENTS: Thieves target your outgoing mail because it is not secure and it often contains checks, or credit card information for bill payments.…
Mail Identity Theft: 5/8/11-5/25/11
Newspaper delivery man from Germantown arrested for mail theft: Germantown resident charged with stealing from boxes in Damascus, Etchison, Laytonsville The Gazette – 5/25/11 (MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND) “A newspaper delivery man has been picking up other people’s mail as he dropped off papers along his route, according to Montgomery County Police. Officers arrested Andre L. Tyler of the 12900 block…
Mail Identity Theft – 5/25/11-6/18/11
Jeannette mail thief sentenced to 30 months in prison Tribune-Review – 6/18/11 (WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA) “A Jeannette man has been sentenced in federal court to 30 months in prison, $17,378 in restitution and three years supervised release after being convicted of mail theft. […] According to information presented to the court, Lewis stole bank statements and credit card convenience checks…
Mail Identity Theft – 6/23/11-7/4/11
Police: Woman stole disability checks out of mailboxes Rome News-Tribune – 7/4/11 (ROME, GEORGIA) “A Rome woman spent her July 4 holiday in jail after being charged with two counts of theft by taking for allegedly stealing disability checks from a mailbox, according to reports. Melissa Anne Jackson, 43, of 413-B Nixon Ave., Rome, is accused of taking two checks…
Mail Identity Theft – 7/6/11-7/12/11
Three sentenced to prison in Tampa Bay fraud, theft ring Tampa Bay Online – 7/11/11 (TAMPA, FLORIDA) “Three participants in a bank fraud, mail theft and aggravated identity theft ring that operated in the Tampa Bay area from mid-2007 through July 2009 were sentenced Friday to prison time, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. […] The four stole checks and…
Mail Identity Theft: 7/12/11-7/25/11
Woman steals gift card out of mailbox KCBD 11 – 7/25/11 (LUBBOCK, TEXAS) “A Lubbock woman admitted last Friday to stealing a gift card from a mailbox. Candace Clark, 27, pleaded guilty in Lubbock federal court and signed a statement that says she and Antony Todd Landers took two greeting cards out of someone’s mailbox back in January. One of…
Mail Identity Theft – 7/27/11-8/4/11
10 Twin Cities residents indicted for stealing mail, identities KARE 11 – 8/4/11 (MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA) “Ten Twin Cities residents were federally indicted Wednesday, charged with stealing mail and using the identities of victims to create bank accounts and obtain cash. The indictment charges Ricky W. Mariano, age 40, of Oakdale; Sarrah M. Vail, age 40; James Edward Freeman, age 19;…
