Investigation continues into mailbox thefts

U.S. postal inspectors are investigating multiple mailbox thefts in the San Diego Country Estates area that have occurred in the past two months, according to the postal service.

Anyone who is a victim of mail theft, which can lead to identity theft and fraud, is asked to notify postal inspectors by calling 877-876-2455 or filing a report online at postalinspectors.uspis.gov.

Mailbox thefts occurred in the Estates in July, said authorities, but no details were provided.

On June 2, about 144 postal customers were affected when locked postal boxes containing eight to 16 residential mail slots were ripped open and heavily damaged.

On June 2, Ramona sheriff’s deputies arrested four people – three of them San Diego residents – after they were observed emptying mailboxes near the 15000 block of Rainbird Road.

Mario Trejo, general manager of the Estates homeowners association (HOA), said a few residents spoke about the thefts at a recent association meeting, questioning who is responsible for the mailboxes. The boxes are owned by the U.S. Postal Service so it is responsible to repair them and has been doing so, he said, adding that the HOA is cooperating with postal inspectors and the sheriff’s department.

Stacia Crane, public information officer for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, suggested residents or the HOA could point video cameras at the mailboxes or add motion detector lights to catch or deter thieves. Because the postal service no longer purchases such mailboxes for communities, those additions would have to be covered by homeowners, she said.

Identity theft is a big issue, Crane noted.

“Never leave mail overnight,” cautioned Crane. “Take mail out of your box every day.”

Often thieves are looking for a check or money order they can cash in to buy drugs, she said.

“They’re looking for something quick they can turn around,” said Crane. They can also use credit card applications to open a line of credit, she added.

“The big thing they want is to get credit under someone’s name so they don’t have to pay it,” she said.

Crane recommended using a gel pen when writing checks that will be mailed. Normal ink can be washed off so a name on a check can be changed, she said, but gel ink is more difficult to wash off.

Mail theft often occurs during the night or early morning when few witnesses may be around, according to the postal service, which offers these prevention tips:

▪ Collect your mail from your mailbox every day as soon as possible after it is delivered. Do not allow it to accumulate, even in a locked mailbox.

▪ Deposit outgoing mail into blue collection boxes before the final pick-up of the same day of deposit. Check the pick-up schedule on the box to ensure your mail will not sit in the box overnight or over the weekend.

▪ When expecting packages to be delivered, monitor tracking at www.usps.com so you know when to expect your shipment. A new U.S. Postal Service feature provides email and text alerts to notify customers of package delivery – sign up at www.myusps.com.

Immediately report any suspicious activity to local police. In Ramona call the sheriff’s station at 760-789-9157.