New Tips To Prevent Mail Theft

Mail theft is a serious problem across this country. When your mail is stolen, you’re not only losing a gift card or a package; you risk becoming a victim of identity theft. Your mail can contain a lot of personal information, and if that falls into the wrong hands you could be facing a lot of stress. We have some new tips to help you keep both your mail and identity safe.

First off, if you have packages arriving, have them sent to your job instead of your home. Packages delivered to your home often sit on your porch for everyone to see, usually for hours. Thieves not only can steal the package, but see private information that is on the packing slip. Not everyone can get packages sent to their jobs but if you can, it can be a lifesaver.

You can’t always get to your mail the moment it is delivered, but never leave your mail overnight. A thief is going to try and steal mail when they will not be noticed. This may be during the day when many people are at work, but it can also be at night when people are sleeping. It is likely no one would notice someone creeping up to your mailbox at two in the morning. If you’re going out of town have the post office hold your mail, or at least ask a friend or family member to collect it.

You should also sign up for the USPS Informed Delivery program when it opens nationwide later this month. The service is free from the USPS. Every morning you will be emailed with images of the mail you will be receiving later that day. This is an amazing tool for helping to prevent identity theft. If you see you have something important in the mail, you may ask a neighbor to pick it up for you. Additionally, if you get an image of your mail and when you get home you are missing something, you can quickly report it. But make sure your email account has a strong password. You don’t want anyone else seeing what mail you are going to be getting that day.

Don’t just throw junk mail away, destroy it. You don’t have to sit down and shred grocery store papers, but if you are sent special offers, that sensitive information could fall into the wrong hands. It’s better to be safe and shred it or cut it up before tossing it.

We’ve mentioned this one before, but consider investing in a mailbox that locks. A thief won’t want to be seen fighting with a locked mailbox and is likely to move on. CBUs are great for this very reason, but if you need a residential unit please consider one that locks. Speaking of tips we’ve mentioned before, send outgoing mail through the post office. That flag indicating you have outgoing mail will attract thieves. Be safe with your personal information and drop it at the post office.

None of these tips are foolproof, but they will help you keep your mail and identity safe, something especially on people’s minds now during tax season. So take some precautions to avoid big headaches later.

Advantages of CBUs

You can’t look into the USPS without finding articles and opinion pieces revolving around ways to assist with their financial struggles. There have been a multitude of proposals, from eliminating Saturday delivery to adding postal banking to all post offices. Another idea that has been thrown around is the idea of eliminating door-to-door delivery. What this means is that in future developments, all mailboxes will be cluster box units. In some cases old developments may even be encouraged to make the switch. If you aren’t familiar with CBUs, we’re here to explain all the fantastic advantages that come with them.

Most American citizens are aware of the USPS financial situation. Due largely in part to declining mail volumes and a law requiring the Postal Service to pre-fund retiree health benefits, the USPS rarely makes a profit. In fact it turned a profit this financial quarter for the first time in five years. However, without further reform, it is unlikely that this is a trend that will continue. With this in mind, one must consider the amount of money the USPS would save by switching to CBU delivery. CBUs allow letter carriers to make fewer stops, thereby saving time and money. Instead of walking around an entire block to deliver the mail, a letter carrier would be able to stop at just one CBU and service the entire block. This would make mail delivery much faster.

CBUs are also much safer than traditional mailboxes. The typical door-to-door mailbox has no type of lock or security. This opens you to the possibility of mail and identity theft. Citizens are particularly vulnerable around tax season, when thieves are seeking tax documents and checks. They may go through all mailboxes on the block, or just mailboxes with the outgoing mail flag up. CBUs require a key to gain access which creates an extra barrier between thieves and your mail.

Another advantage of CBUs is that they remove headaches for ordinary citizens. With a typical residential mailbox, you have to maintain it. You must make sure the post is secure and that the mailbox is painted. You have to mow and shovel around the post. Depending on where you are, you may even have to shovel a path to your mailbox or risk the letter carriers refusing to deliver your mail. With a CBU, all those hassles disappear. All you have to do is walk (or drive) to the CBU, take your mail, and go.   

Residential mailboxes go through a lot of use, and often they will show it. CBUs are designed to be

more resistant to use and the elements, especially if they are made for outdoor use. A CBU will not require painting and regular maintenance. Not only is this good for the mailbox, but it is good for mail and parcels too. With extra protection parcels and mail are less likely to get wet and damaged from the elements.

This final advantage we want to discuss today admittedly will not apply to all CBUs, but it will apply to some. Many CBUs do not have only tenant mail compartments, but parcel lockers as well. This eliminates the need for you to make a trip to the post office to pick up your packages. It also means your packages won’t be left on the porch for all to see. Packages are secured in a durable parcel locker, accessible only by key.

There are many reasons why CBUs are a great option. If you encounter them at your next home, give them a chance before you write off these high quality units.  

Prevent Mail Theft

It happens more often than you’d think. You send a gift card to a relative or friend, but they never get it. You’re waiting for a rebate check in the mail, and it never shows. While it may be tempting to blame the USPS for these annoyances, it likely isn’t their fault at all. There’s all sorts of reports of mail theft in the media, and these thieves might be the ones who are responsible for your missing mail.

So, now you know that mail theft exists, and it’s not a rare occurrence. But what do you do about it? Well, we’ve got some tips for you that may prevent you from becoming a victim.

One big tip is to never send cash though the mail. While that is common with sending birthday and graduation cards, it is an easy way for your money to be stolen and no one to know. You can’t track cash, so always use a check or money order. If you do plan to send money, it is best to warn the receiver in advanced so they’re watching for it.

On the same note, you should also pick up your mail as soon as you can after it’s been delivered. This is especially true if you yourself are expecting money, credit cards, or gifts in the mail. If you cannot get to your mailbox, ask a trusted friend or neighbor to retrieve your mail.

When sending mail, placing mail in your mailbox with the flag up is the least secure way to do it. Instead, mail your items from a public building or, better yet, from the post office itself. It prevents mail from getting into the wrong hands.

Consider paying bills online, and attempting to get personal financial information all delivered digitally. When you receive mail such as credit card offers you do not want, be sure to dispose of them carefully. Shred them or cut them up so they can’t be stolen and taken out in your name.

If you are going out of town, put a hold on your mail or ask a trusted neighbor to pick up your mail for you. If thieves see an overflowing mailbox, they’ll feel free to take mail from it.

You may also consider investing in a locking mailbox. With these types of mailboxes, you are the only one with access to your mailbox. That way you don’t have to be concerned about thieves approaching your mailbox.

Of course, these tips aren’t foolproof, but they’re a step in the right direction to preventing mail theft.