While you were walking your dog in a SymarBruce Rossemberg noticed something strange in a pile of papers scattered around the area where he was walking.
He noticed that there were a lot of open envelopes and at first thought it was junk mail. But, on checking more closely, he realized that it was his neighbours’ mail.
“There was a lot of mail from all over the neighborhood,” said Roseemberg, who decided to do something about it.
“I would walk around the neighborhood, like Santa Claus, and put everyone’s mail in their mailbox.”
Denver police are asking the community for help in identifying this suspect, who allegedly committed the robbery at a Lakewood apartment complex.
A recurrent issue
Stolen mail is nothing new in this neighborhood, where residents say it has become a recurring problem.
“Three times now. Three times we found it in open mail,” says Liliana Curioca.
Isabel Velásquez, another affected neighbor, says they started noticing the problem since December. The security camera installed in his house caught a thief stealing his mail.
“We have several videos of them, how they park and how quickly they enter houses,” says Velásquez.
Although they complained to the authorities, they allege that they have not received a solution that satisfies them.
Many companies use email addresses to track a user’s identity and send direct correspondence such as advertising. There are solutions to avoid this.
“We have filed several complaints but, so far, nothing has happened,” says Curioca
The only change, say the two affected neighbors, is that they changed the old community mailbox to a modern one, with a key.
“They came to talk to us,” Velásquez said. “They even changed the box. the others were 40 years old and not as new as the ones today”.
But they say they’re not sure if that solved the problem. They fear identity theft.
“It’s the scariest thing,” says Velásquez. “Because you work hard for what little you have and someone comes along and steals your social security and they can do things that hurt your credit.”
For now, they want to warn others who have old mailboxes to take precautions.
Reports of letters and documents being sent from mailboxes as well as attacks on postmen are increasing.
” (It’s necessary to be vigilant. Pay attention to what is happening in the neighborhood,” advises ppp. “And communicate with neighbors, so we’re all on the same page.”
How to protect against mail theft
Having a locked mailbox is one of the best ways to protect your mail. But if your mail is still stolen or your mailbox is stolen, your identity may be at risk.
That’s why consumer experts recommend rushing through cases like this, to protect your information and avoid becoming a victim of identity theft.
If you have a non-modern mailbox, don’t let your mail pile up. Pick it up every day, preferably before dark. This will prevent thieves from taking advantage of the darkness to commit their misdeeds.
A loose bull, who escaped from a local farm in Stanfford Township, New Jersey, destroyed a mailbox in one of the nearby residences and the whole event was recorded on the body camera of a policeman.
On the other hand, consumer experts advise those affected to take immediate action, such as contacting their bank and changing passwords to their accounts and even social networks.
“It’s very important to contact their bank accounts and tell them what happened to them,” said Alma Galvan of the Consumer Protection Department.
“(You need to) alert them and let you know if there are any charges that aren’t yours so they don’t take your money or get more information from you.”
Law enforcement is asking victims to report these thefts which are considered a federal crime.