Mailbox thieves target Indio residents

The Indio Police Department is warning the public to be aware of suspicious people who have been stealing from residential mailboxes.

The criminal activity has had an effect across the entire Coachella Valley, leading to financial fraud and identity theft, officers said in a release. In some cases, checks stolen in the outgoing mailboxes have been ‘washed’ and then cashed for much larger amounts.

The Indio Police Department is asking you to be vigilant for your own protection and that of your neighbors. If you see a person checking other people’s mailboxes in your neighborhood, call police with any identifying information you have and the suspect’s last known direction of travel.

Police provided the following tips to reduce your likelihood of becoming a victim of mail theft:

Report suspicious individuals and vehicles seen driving around neighborhoods and near neighborhood mailboxes
Use the letter slots inside your local Post Office for your mail, or hand it to a letter carrier
Pick up your mail promptly after delivery or don’t leave it in your mailbox overnight
Report any theft of mail to your local police department

News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 are looking closer at the recent incidents of mail theft and we’ll have more specifics for you Wednesday evening.