Locking Security Mailboxes Prevent Mail Theft
Since mail theft is the fastest growing white collar crime in the U.S. today, citizens have new responsibilities. Many are purchasing locking mailboxes in order to deter mail thieves
Why Discourage Mail Theft?
Mail theft is an easy crime to commit. It is not considered a violent crime. Mail thieves know that they can gain access to people's personal information by stealing it from mailboxes. They also know that the age-old crime of theft is working for them. Few mail thieves are arrested and convicted. There is a complicated paper trail necessary to gather the evidence needed to get a conviction. They find cash in mailboxes. Cash is any information which they can use to get virtually free money. This does not necessarily mean that dollar bills are stolen from mailboxes.
How, then, does mail theft pay off?
Mailboxes contain personal items that thieves alter and use for their own purposes. Items they are looking for in delivered mail are replacement credit cards and debit cards. So many businesses do not even check to determine if the credit or debit card they are given in payment really belongs to the person using it. Other dangers in delivered mail include Social Security numbers, Driver's Licenses and credit card offers containing checks with the addressee's name and address printed on them. These items represent "cash" stolen from mailboxes.
Secondly, outgoing mail placed in residential mailboxes contains the checks written for the payment of bills. These can be stolen, chemically washed and used by anyone at all. This is "cash" stolen from a mailbox.
How To Discourage Mail Theft
Then, sit back and smile. Mail thieves cannot ever get any mail from such a mailbox. The owners of heavy duty steel locking mailboxes know for a surety that they have not only discouraged mail theft, they have prevented mail theft. Such a locking security mailbox is the last mailbox the owner will ever need to buy.
Why Discourage Mail Theft?
Mail theft is an easy crime to commit. It is not considered a violent crime. Mail thieves know that they can gain access to people's personal information by stealing it from mailboxes. They also know that the age-old crime of theft is working for them. Few mail thieves are arrested and convicted. There is a complicated paper trail necessary to gather the evidence needed to get a conviction. They find cash in mailboxes. Cash is any information which they can use to get virtually free money. This does not necessarily mean that dollar bills are stolen from mailboxes.
How, then, does mail theft pay off?
Mailboxes contain personal items that thieves alter and use for their own purposes. Items they are looking for in delivered mail are replacement credit cards and debit cards. So many businesses do not even check to determine if the credit or debit card they are given in payment really belongs to the person using it. Other dangers in delivered mail include Social Security numbers, Driver's Licenses and credit card offers containing checks with the addressee's name and address printed on them. These items represent "cash" stolen from mailboxes.
Secondly, outgoing mail placed in residential mailboxes contains the checks written for the payment of bills. These can be stolen, chemically washed and used by anyone at all. This is "cash" stolen from a mailbox.
How To Discourage Mail Theft
- Take outgoing mail containing personal information to a locked drop box or to the post office. Never leave it in the mailbox.
- Get the postal service warning to mail thieves sticker and place it on the mailbox.
- Never leave mail in the mailbox overnight or when traveling away from home for even one day.
- Keep watch in the neighborhood for suspicious activity.
- Research steel locking mailboxes.
- Many steel locking mailboxes on the market today are easily pried open, phished by hand and lock picked simply with a screwdriver.
- Choose a locking mailbox constructed of thick, ¼ inch steel (2 gauge) and know that it cannot be pried or bashed open.
- Determine the size of box that holds the required amount of mail – a week, 2 weeks, a month.
- Decide if a mailbox that accommodates packages is necessary. Such a package box can be equipped with a mail slot as well as a package compartment.
- Choose a pick-proof lock such as a tumbler tubular lock, not one like is used for exterior doors and padlocks. Only the mailbox owner has the key to his mailbox.
Then, sit back and smile. Mail thieves cannot ever get any mail from such a mailbox. The owners of heavy duty steel locking mailboxes know for a surety that they have not only discouraged mail theft, they have prevented mail theft. Such a locking security mailbox is the last mailbox the owner will ever need to buy.
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