Crime & Safety

Holiday Crime Alert: Mail Thief Snatches Video Game, Cell Phone Accessories

Package was still in mailbox, but contents had been taken.

With the holidays come an increased number of gift shipments and, unfortunately, increased opportunities for thieves. Thieves may steal packages off door stoops, remove them from mailboxes or simply open them and take whatever is inside the package. Such was the case with a local woman who recently received a package in the mail, but not the contents.

The Biltmore Rose Court resident contacted police on Dec. 1 to report a Nintendo Wii game and a cell phone accessory kit had been stolen. The package, according to the police report, was found in the mailbox but it had been opened and the contents removed. The total value of the stolen items was estimated at $75.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) offers several tips for keeping mail safe from thieves:

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  • Never send cash in the mail.
  • Promptly remove mail from the mailbox after delivery. If you are expecting a package, ask a friend or neighbor to pick up your mail.
  • Have your mail held at the post office while on vacation.
  • If a package or piece of mail fails to arrive when expected, contact the mailer immediately.
  • Send your mail by depositing it in a slot at the post office or handing it directly to your letter carrier.
  • Consider starting a neighborhood watch program.

In the event you see a mail thief at work, call the police and then contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455.

To report mail theft to the USPS, click here.

Find out what's happening in Daculawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Have you ever been the victim of mail theft? Let us know in the comments.

You might also be interested in reading:

  • Keep Your Home Secure While Traveling Over the Holidays
  • Juveniles Detained After Stealing Packages in Hamilton Mill
  • Two Arrested in Hamilton Mill Area Thefts


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