Mail Theft

Garden City, NY - 

     The Garden City Police Department is warning residents about an increase in stolen mail throughout the Village and Nassau County. These thefts occur from residential USPS mailboxes at all times of the day and night. 

     According to Commissioner Jackson, in most cases, thieves use a weighted object covered with a sticky substance attached to a string to retrieve mail from mailboxes. This method allows them to easily pull out envelopes and packages. The thieves usually look for checks where they wash out the ink and add new amounts and recipients’ names before cashing. Commissioner Jackson states that “stolen postal keys are often used to open mailboxes and requests residents notify the Department if they observe non-postal office persons removing mail from a mailbox.
 

     These thefts are not only a violation of privacy, but they can also lead to identity theft and financial loss for the victims. Commissioner Jackson is urging residents to take precautions to protect their mail and recommends the following safeguards:

· Place mail in receptacles inside the Post Office, or hand your outgoing mail directly to your mail carrier

· Do not send cash in the mail

· Use “secure” checks that are difficult to alter

· Use black gel pens when writing checks; gel ink bonds better than regular ink with the fibers of paper checks, making it harder to wash off or alter.

· If dropping your mail in a mailbox, drop your mail as close as possible to the collection time listed on the mailbox

· Do not drop mail in the mailbox if you see any sticky substances on the box

· Promptly retrieve delivered mail from your mailbox to avoid theft.

     The Garden City Police Department is working to investigate these thefts and increase patrols in affected areas. He is also reminding residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity in the vicinity of mailboxes to the Police Department. Commissioner Jackson states, “The safety and security of this community is a top priority for this department, and we are committed to taking action to prevent further incidents.”
 

     Residents are encouraged to contact the Garden City Police Department at (516) 465-4100 with any information or concerns regarding these thefts. Together, we can work to keep our community safe and prevent these crimes from happening in the future.