what am i supposed to do? someone is STEALING my mail

[LongCoolMother]

okay, so its been happening a long time ago, but it stopped. now, just yesterday, my mom filled out a survey for the supermarket er government sorta thing and she placed it in the mailbox in the morning, about 7:20am. Half an hour later, we got in the car so she could send me to school, and we noticed that our mailbox was open. I went to go check it, and the mail was gone. obviously, someone is stealing my mail, and this was like the 5th time this happen. i dont think theres anything important on that survey, besides the information regarding income, ages, occupation, etc. now i have 2 theories

first, the person who stole my mail knew everyone on my block got that survey and is likely to mail it the next morning. therefore, he is going through the neighborhood taking random house's mail. this is my theory if the fool is looking for information.

second, the fool is probably just stealing my mail on random for the heck of it.

other thoughts are relatively similar to those

i cant believe people actually do this, they need to get a life, why the hell are they stealing my mail.

what im asking if there is a way you can prevent this? i thought of asking the post office to KEEP all my mail and that i will mail all future stuff from the post office. so i can just go to the office to pick up my mail and just drop off whatever i want to send. is there any other solutions (ie make a locking mailbox so the mailman can only deliver mail but the mailbox is not open-able)?

thanks

 

[Amused]

They are looking for personal checks to "wash," then write in with their own amount and cash. They could also be looking for credit aps to steal identities.

NEVER use your mailbox to mail anything.

And yes, there are "secure" mail boxes you can buy that have a universal lock that postal workers have a key for, just like in Apt complexes.

 

[dude8604]

Call the police. Stealing mail is illegal. Maybe they could help you...

 

[sheselectric]

isn't that a federal crime?

 

[LongCoolMother]

<< They are looking for personal checks to "wash," then write in with their own amount and cash. They could also be looking for credit aps to steal identities.

NEVER use your mailbox to mail anything.

And yes, there are "secure" mail boxes you can buy that have a universal lock that postal workers have a key for, just like in Apt complexes. >>



are those locks allowed on my mailboxes? apparently, my entire neighborhood uses my current mailboxes, and i have yet to see someone use a lock on it. ill look into it though, thanks

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Yes those are allowed. Talk to your postmaster too about it. OR, you could have your mom put something in the mailbox on a day you are off from school.....sit at the window with a shotgun...when someone approaches your mailbox run out side with the shotgun aimed at them and yell and scream at them

 

[LongCoolMother]

undoubtly it is a crime. a serious one. i dont think the police would be able to catch the person, just give me some usual advice. what number do i call? 311? the one for no-emergencies. i never called it before though

 

[nihil]

if you can setup a video camera to try to get the guy on tape. then call the police with that tape. if you can't tape it, just go to the police and try to get them to help you.

 

[sharkeeper]

Thieves want your mail. Don't be a victim!

Contact local law enforcement AND the U.S. Postal Inspection service immediately!

Cheers!

 

[Amused]

<<

<< They are looking for personal checks to "wash," then write in with their own amount and cash. They could also be looking for credit aps to steal identities.

NEVER use your mailbox to mail anything.

And yes, there are "secure" mail boxes you can buy that have a universal lock that postal workers have a key for, just like in Apt complexes. >>



are those locks allowed on my mailboxes? apparently, my entire neighborhood uses my current mailboxes, and i have yet to see someone use a lock on it. ill look into it though, thanks >>



You'll have to buy a whole new USPS approved and keyed mailbox. You can find them most any place that sells mailboxes. If you want stylish ones, Frontgate has some nice ones.

 

[LongCoolMother]

<< Yes those are allowed. Talk to your postmaster too about it. OR, you could have your mom put something in the mailbox on a day you are off from school.....sit at the window with a shotgun...when someone approaches your mailbox run out side with the shotgun aimed at them and yell and scream at them >>



rotfr, thats EXACTLY what i told my mom i should do. ill just sit up in my room peekin at my front yard, and if i see any foolio come and try to steal my mail, ill run out there and shoot his @$$ up!

 

[LongCoolMother]

<< if you can setup a video camera to try to get the guy on tape. then call the police with that tape. if you can't tape it, just go to the police and try to get them to help you. >>



i thought of that too. would a wireless camera work out? perhaps a wireless one, like those X10s you can buy at frys. they'll be fine in the rain right, and its perfectly legal to record your own home. thanks for the ideas, im gonna get this guy

 

[GoodToGo]

<< Thanks for the ideas, im gonna get this guy >>



Good luck in catching this stupid person.

 

[nihil]

<<

<< if you can setup a video camera to try to get the guy on tape. then call the police with that tape. if you can't tape it, just go to the police and try to get them to help you. >>



i thought of that too. would a wireless camera work out? perhaps a wireless one, like those X10s you can buy at frys. they'll be fine in the rain right, and its perfectly legal to record your own home. thanks for the ideas, im gonna get this guy >>



is it possible for you to setup the camera inside and just focus it on the mailbox? if so you can always do that. i'm not sure about the wireless ones though.

 

[Amused]

Be careful. I've read about these check washing gangs and most are long time criminals. People with a lot to lose are not going to be passive in most cases.

BTW, check washing is where they take a check you've written, and put it in a tray with very common chemicals that lift the pen ink, but do not damage the printing on the check. They dry it out, and write in whatever they want then cash it.

Folks, NEVER use your mail box for outgoing mail. Drop it at the PO. That red flag on your box is just an invitation for theives.

 

[Amused]

<<

<<

<< if you can setup a video camera to try to get the guy on tape. then call the police with that tape. if you can't tape it, just go to the police and try to get them to help you. >>



i thought of that too. would a wireless camera work out? perhaps a wireless one, like those X10s you can buy at frys. they'll be fine in the rain right, and its perfectly legal to record your own home. thanks for the ideas, im gonna get this guy >>



is it possible for you to setup the camera inside and just focus it on the mailbox? if so you can always do that. i'm not sure about the wireless ones though. >>



If you're going to catch them on video, you need to make sure the camera is in a position to get the license plate. I doubt this guy is walking up to your box. He most likely drives right up to it.

 

[Cyberian]

<< Thieves want your mail. Don't be a victim!

Contact local law enforcement AND the U.S. Postal Inspection service immediately!

Cheers! >>

Nice link - Thanks!!

 

[MustPost]

wireless camera + duct tape = most versitile recording unit avalable

 

[sharkeeper]

<< BTW, check washing is where they take a check you've written, and put it in a tray with very common chemicals that lift the pen ink, but do not damage the printing on the check. They dry it out, and write in whatever they want then cash it. >>



So all we need to do is formulate an ink that will react with this solution causing the check to burst into flames!

Cheers!

 

[LongCoolMother]

whats freaky is, my mom put the mail out and in 30 min. i came out and it was gone. that person HAS to have known that we werent there or something, because they came within those 30 minutes. i dont like the feeling that im being watched..

 

[StageLeft]

This mean you can drop things in your own mailbox instead of an official USPS mailbox to send something?! I didn't kow that.

Anyway this is easy:VIDEOCAMERA.

 

[KthxBye]

If I understand the x-10 ads, they will not work unless an attractive woman is stealing your mail. Come to think of it, that would make a pretty good one...

 

[MrCodeDude]

Set up a camera that looks out your front window or towards your street. Make it aim towards the mailbox.. Get a blank envelope, stamp Classified or something on it, put it out, leave (go eat or something), let the guy steal your mail, the camera catches everything.. Either that or have a friend come to your house, stay the night, both you and your mom leave, your friend watches out the window or something, the guy comes to steal your mail and your friend beats the guy down with a bat
-- mrcodedude

 

[compuwiz1]

Someone I know has just had over $20,000 stolen from his bank account. Someone got ahold of his account number, social security number and got fake ID. He got a call from the bank telling him that a bunch of his checks were bouncing that he paid bills with and one of the check numbers he was given, that had cleared his bank, was one that was still in his checkbook. This thief actually got checks printed up. I hope they catch em soon. :|

Identity theft is going on big time. They look for anything that will give them your social security number, bank account numbers and other things they will need to get checks and ID.

 

[db]

Coupla ideas:
a little kid is playing postman;
the people who stole it wrote the questionaire in the first place to get information.