Hundreds of stolen checks recovered after investigation of mail theft in Kettering

KETTERING — Hundreds of stolen checks were recovered Thursday night following a search warrant that stemmed from an investigation of theft from mail drop boxes in Kettering.

The sender locations of the checks vary from Independence, Pickerington, Powell, Cincinnati, Kettering, Oakwood, Dayton, Huber Heights, Fairborn, Centerville and Springboro, according to a spokesperson for the Kettering Police Department.

>> RELATED: Kettering police issue warning about recent increase in theft from post office drop boxes

Police say they got a call from concerned citizen Thursday night saying they saw something strange happening at the Stroop Road post office. That’s when police say they found out one of the mail boxes was broken in to.

“Terrible,” said Danny Stanaford. “People doing that stuff all the time.”

Stanaford tells News Center 7′s Xavier Horsovitz he always pays his bills through the mail but with mail theft on the rise, he doesn’t drop it in the drop box any more.

“It’s not a problem just in Kettering— it’s all over the country,” said Kettering Officer Tyler Johnson.

Kettering police also made five felony arrests for receiving stolen property, the spokesperson said.

Police say there was no damage to the outside of the boxes.

>>RELATED: Police: 10 arrests made in connection to mail thefts in Kettering

News Center 7′s I-Team previously reported about mail carriers being robbed for these arrow keys— used to open mail boxes.

Police can not yet confirm that’s how this Kettering box was opened.

“That’s unclear right now. Investigations are ongoing,” Johnson said.

Police say they did recover a key when they made the five arrests Thursday night.

Police say the majority of the mail recovered is from Kettering residents but they’re still investigating if all it came from the boxes here at the Stroop Road post office.

Anyone who used the Stroop Road post office outdoor drop boxes between the hours of 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. is asked to contact Detective Morgan at 937-296-2559.

Kettering police are reminding people not to use the outdoor mail drop boxes at the post office if possible.

©2022 Cox Media Group