VANDALIA — Mail thefts in the area serviced by the Vandalia post office has the postmaster warning residents to take precautions to protect themselves.
“It appears someone is going into boxes and removing mail that has been left in it overnight,” Postmaster Kimberly Walker said. “We are asking for your assistance by making sure you remove your mail from the box each day and not allow it to sit overnight.”
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The warning was sent out to customers in the impacted area earlier this week and comes as many residents are beginning to receive important tax documents that can contain personal information.
The United States Postal Service said it is working with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to investigate the cases.
The sheriff’s office said it has taken three reports of mail being stolen since the beginning of the year, but each of those cases are in Washington Twp. We’re working to learn how many cases Vandalia Police may be involved with.
If you have security cameras pointed toward your mailbox the postal service is asking you to monitor them for any suspicious vehicles. If you spot any suspicious vehicles near your mailbox you can contact police or the postal service’s inspection service.
The postal service does offer a service called Informed Delivery, where customers can sign-up to receive a daily email that includes images of the pieces of mail you should be receiving.
USPS said there are several other actions you can take to protect yourself from mail theft:
- Hand outgoing mail to your letter carrier, or mail it at the Post Office, an official blue USPS collection box on the street, or a secure receptacle at your place of business.
- If you have concerns about security in your neighborhood, consider installing a lockable mailbox or obtaining PO Box service from your local Post Office.
- Consider starting a neighborhood watch program. By exchanging work and vacation schedules with trusted neighbors, you can watch each other’s mailboxes and residences.
Cox Media Group
