Full Notification

The Livermore Police Department has responded to several reports of community mailboxes being broken into in the recent months. LPD wants to alert the community to the issue of mail theft, and ask for the community’s assistance in solving these crimes.

LPD asks that if you see anything suspicious occurring near community mailboxes that you immediately call LPD Dispatch at 925-371-4987 to report what is occurring. If your mailbox is broken into, please report it. More and more people have surveillance cameras in front of their homes, and neighbors may have captured images of people who steal mail or packages left on porches. LPD would like to be informed if a community member has such video.

The typical reason that mailboxes are broken into is for the criminal to be able to perpetuate identity theft. Personal information can be gathered in a variety of ways, and mail theft is a popular method of doing so. Here are some tips to reduce the chances of becoming the victim of identity theft via mail theft.

▪ Use the letter slots inside the post office for your mail, or hand it to a letter carrier. Do not put outgoing bill payments in the mailbox in front of your home

▪ Pick up your mail promptly after delivery. Don’t leave it in your mailbox overnight.

▪ If you are expecting checks, credit cards or other negotiable items, ask a trusted friend or neighbor to pick up your mail.

▪ If you don’t receive a check or other valuable mail you’re expecting, contact the issuing agency immediately.

▪ If you change your address, immediately notify your post office and anyone with whom you do business via the mail.

▪ Don’t send cash in the mail.

▪ Tell the post office when you will be out of town, so they can hold your mail until you return.

▪ Report all suspected mail theft to the police department and the postal inspector.

To help prevent mail theft, and other criminal activity, consider joining or starting a neighborhood watch program. By exchanging work and vacation schedules with trusted friends and neighbors, you can watch each other’s mailboxes and homes. By being a part of Neighborhood Watch you can talk with neighbors and arrange for packages and deliveries to be made to a residence where someone is at home during the day to receive them. Neighborhood Watch programs provide increased vigilance in being aware of what is occurring in a neighborhood.
If you do become the victim of Identity Theft there are steps you can take to stop it from continuing and reduce your liability. First, report it to the police. Then contact and report the crime to the three major credit Bureaus (Equifax - www.equifax.com Experian - www.experian.com Trans Union - www.tuc.com). Contact and report the incident to the creditor establishments where the accounts have been used or opened without your authorization. Continue to monitor your records to quickly deal with lingering incidents of theft or fraud under your name. Lastly document the steps you have taken once you realized someone has used your personal information. This will help you clear your record.