The Lane County Sheriff's office has received multiple reports of recent mail theft. Sergeant Carrie Carver says the thefts have been widespread throughout the county.
Carver: "A lot of times you don't even know if you are the victim of mail theft. Somebody can just come along and take items out of your mailbox, which is really particularly scary, but it can result in the loss of money, potential identity theft and that can be really costly and frustrating and time-consuming."
Carver says people can reduce their risk of being the victim of mail theft.
Take outgoing mail to a secure mailbox or post office or hand it directly to your mail carrier. Retrieve your mail as soon as it's delivered. You can also purchase a locking mailbox. If going out of town, it's a good idea to put a hold on mail delivery or have a trusted neighbor pick it up.
Carver urges people to report mail theft to local authorities and to the US Postal Inspections Service.
US Postal Inspections Service: 1877-876-2455
