Postal Service Warns of Rise in Mail Theft

Mail thefts are on the rise, and the U.S. Postal Service has asked the public’s help in catching the culprits.

In the last two weeks, a mail carrier witnessed someone drive up and take mail from several mailboxes on a street in Northridge, said Terri Bouffiou, a postal service spokesperson.

People who raise the red flags on their mailboxes to alert the postal carriers they have mail also are notifying thieves, Bouffiou said. “Most of the time when there’s outgoing mail, it’s not a birthday card and a letter to Grandma,” Bouffiou said. “[Thieves] don’t have to look any farther for a mailbox to rob, there’s probably checks in there.”

Pamela Prince, a postal inspector, said there has been an increase in mail thefts throughout Southern California. The crooks are often drug users who fraudulently cash the checks to buy drugs, Prince said.

The postal service is urging residents to:

* Drop off mail either at a post office or in a locked mailbox.

* Become familiar with their letter carrier and remove mail promptly after it is delivered.

* Rent mailboxes if they can’t remove mail from their mailbox daily.

* Call postal service inspectors at (818) 405-1200 if their mail has been stolen or tampered with or if they witness someone watching or following a postal carrier or loitering around mailboxes.

Mail theft is a federal crime. People convicted of mail theft face up to five years in prison and fines of up to $2,000 per offense, Bouffiou said.