Postal Mail Thefts Reported in Franconia District

In the past few weeks, a number of mail thefts have been reported in the Franconia District, according to a recent release from the Franconia District Police Station. Each theft has happened in the morning when mail has been taken from mailboxes with a red flag up.

Most of the stolen mail has been discarded nearby, and some of the envelopes were opened. According to the release, the police do not know of any identity thefts or other crimes as a result of these thefts. In one case, a witness saw a small white vehicle in the area.

Due to the recent incidents, Fairfax County police provided the following tips:

• Do not put outgoing mail in an unsecured mailbox. Particularly financial instruments such as checks, cash and other important documents. Instead, drop them in a postal service drop box or take them to the post office.
• Make sure that you pick up your incoming mail in a timely manner. Do not allow it to stay overnight. You can also purchase a locking mail box.
• Consider paying bills and banking online to avoid receiving statements in the mail. Make sure that the sights that you are using have https in the URL. Check your statements often.
• Shred your mail instead of throwing it away.
• The US Postal Service uses marked vehicles and uniformed employees. If you see someone other than a uniformed employee or the homeowner  handling mail call the police(703) 691-2131.  This rule also applies to the other carriers such as Fedex and UPS.
• Report all mail thefts to the Fairfax County Police and the US Postal Service. A link to the USPS sight is provided below.