County Executive Laura Curran and Commissioner of Police Patrick Ryder would like to alert the public that they have seen an increase in stolen mail in Nassau County. They would like to urge the public to be vigilant using the following safety tips.
The thefts are occurring at all times of the day and night. The thieves are using a weighted object that is attached to string or wire and covered in a sticky substance to retrieve mail out of postal boxes. Thieves are also placing a sticky substance on the mailbox draw to capture ingoing mail.
The following are police recommendations to safeguard your mail:
- Use the letter slots inside your Post Office, or hand your mail directly to your letter carrier
- Do not send cash in the mail
- Ask your financial institution for “secure” checks that cannot be altered
- For collection boxes: Drop your mail off as close to possible to collection time. Avoid dropping mail in collection boxes during holiday weekends
- Check to see if your mail dropped down into the mailbox and not hung up on any other surface
- Most important, we want to remind people when they are dropping off their mail they should remain observant of cars and people who appear suspicious
- If You “See Something, Say Something”
Dial 9-1-1 and be ready to provide the police with as much information as possible regarding the description of the suspicious person or vehicle. License plate numbers are extremely valuable information for the police.