Police Warn Of Mailbox Thefts In Mercer County

Lawrenceville NJ

30 March, 2022

4:53 PM

Description

MERCER COUNTY, NJ – The Hamilton Police is investigating several cases of theft from mailboxes across the township, authorities said. Thieves are stealing mail from several mailboxes to look for checks, gift cards or cash, police said. They are able to alter stolen checks and use them to defraud victims of their money, authorities said. These thefts are affecting residents who use USPS blue mailboxes. Police are asking residents to use a postal facility or give their mail directly to the mail carrier if it contains anything valuable. Residents who deposit checks into the mail must make sure they are being deposited correctly by the intended party, police advised. Police also recommend the use of "security pens" designed with ink to prevent alterations of checks. Mail-related check theft has become a major problem for the USPS, according to a report from Bloomberg. Mail theft complaints increased by 161 percent from March 2020 to February 2021, the report said. If you notice a sticky substance in or around a mailbox chute or notice suspicious activity, call the Hamilton Police at 609-581-400. Thank you for reading. Have a correction or news tip? Email [email protected] Get breaking news alerts on your phone with our app. Download here. Sign up to get Patch emails so you don't miss out on local and statewide news.