February 28, 2007

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  NEWS: San Antonio Mail Thieves Plague Residents

  The US Postal Service recently reported a rise on the incidence of mail theft, a growing phenomenon that goes hand in hand with identity theft. Residents of Northeast San Antonio have had cause for concern lately after a spate of mail thefts. Vandalism and resultant theft from Larkspur community mailboxes has alarmed area residents, who fear that an identity thief may be pillaging their mail. Reportedly, boxes of checks issued from banks and credit card pre-approvals have been among those articles repeatedly lifted – key articles in the process of stealing a person's identity.
  
  The theft in Larkspur is particularly distressing, as the whole idea behind community mailboxes is presumably to keep everyone's mail safer. Instead, the vandals have discovered that by forcibly breaking just one lock, they can have access to several residents' mail. San Antonio police are working with city postal inspectors to learn more about the crimes, but, in the meantime, they are alerting residents to take extra cautions. Going directly to the post office to pick up one's mail is a safe –though time-consuming- measure, and those who have had mail stolen already are advised to monitor their credit reports for the first signs of tampering. 
  
  
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