The Ubiquitous Mailbox is the

Chief Tool in a $1 Billion Swindle

By David R. Walker

Southland Regional Association of Realtors

Most homeowners treat it like a container for junk mail, but it’s time the ubiquitous mailbox got the respect it deserves.

Failing to ignore security issues surrounding the common mailbox is, in a growing number of instances, worse than leaving the house unlocked, the lights on and cash on the dining room table. Identity theft is the fastest growing white collar crime in the nation and the run of the mill mailbox is the chief tool of this $1 billion a year swindle.

The Southland Regional Association of Realtors has organized a seminars offering tips on how to avoid being a victim. The seminars also provided suggestions on what homeowners should do if they wind up as the one out of every five households that become prey to identity fraud.

A postal inspector with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service said some people fail to realize they have been hit until too late, after their credit is ruined and a mountain of bills arrive. That can happen because of thieves like the Studio City “Joggers.”

Local police and postal inspectors chased pairs of men who would don running shoes and sweat pants to jog through affluent neighborhoods. Typically, one would follow not far behind the postal delivery truck. The jogger would snatch the content of mailboxes and throw it to an accomplice trailing  nearby in a car.

“They would take everything,” the inspector said “The goal is to steal credit cards, your name, date of birth and Social Security number.”

That’s all they need to buy expensive items to trade for cash, which typically winds up being used to buy drugs. But one suspect was caught with $42,000 in cash, 200 stolen credit cards and a new Jaguar in the garage.

Here are a few simple rules to keep “The Joggers” and less athletic identity thieves at bay.

• Do not leave outgoing mail in an unlocked mailbox. Drop it off at a local post office. Avoid letting mail sit in a U.S. Mail collection box overnight and especially on weekends.
• Promptly pick up incoming mail once it is delivered to the mailbox.
• Purchase a locked mailbox or install a lock on an unlocked mail box. Remember, the mail slot must be large enough and safe enough for the letter carrier to insert mail.
• Arrange for mail to be delivered to a Post Office box for a small fee, especially if you travel away from home a lot.
• Electronically deposit regular income checks to a bank account via direct deposit. Contact the local bank for details.
• Get to know the local postal carrier, the vehicle they drive and their daily schedule. A friendly wave can add to a sense of community and ensure safety.
• Immediately report any suspicious persons or activity. Do not jeopardize safety, but be a good witness.

The Postal Service pays up to $10,000 for information and services leading to the arrest and conviction of mail thieves. Report suspect or crime information to the Postal Inspectors’ 24-hour hotline at 626-405-1200. If possible and safe, use a video camera to record mail thieves in action.

If a new credit card, check or other valuable fails to arrive, promptly notify the sender and the police. And, of course, notify the Post Office if you are going on vacation or have a trusted friend pick up mail promptly after delivery.

Regularly check the status of your credit and place a fraud alert statement on your credit cards. For tips on what to do when identity theft occurs, contact us using the information below. Remember, if you are not part of the solution, soon enough you may be part of the problem.

This column is a service of the 11,800-member Southland Regional Association of Realtors, one of the nation’s largest local associations. Send questions to David R. Walker via e-mail to DavidR7944@aol.com.

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