Mail Theft:
Recently, an alert community member reported to me that while she was out walking in the neighborhood, she found some of her neighbor’s mail discarded in some ivy. She retrieved it, returned it and promptly notified police about it (thank you again Shirley!!). It brought to mind that maybe this issue should be discussed since many folks are unfamiliar as how best to handle mail theft and or fraud.
If you believe you’re a victim of theft or fraud related to the U.S. Mail, including mailed sweepstakes, lotteries, on-line auctions, work-at-home scams or chain letters, report your concern to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
All information is voluntary, but the more you provide, the more likely it is that they can help you. Inspectors base their investigations on the number, substance and pattern of complaints. So it’s very important to report any and all incidents to reflect any growing criminal patterns or trends in your community.
While the US Postal Inspectors handle all mail crime, please call 911 should you see anyone in your neighborhood in the process of stealing mail. We will come out and apprehend the suspect and notify the inspector’s office.
Report the following issues online to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service:
• Mail theft (mail you failed to receive but should have, or that you received with the contents missing).
• Mail fraud (may include scams or deceptive ads via the mail, or postage fraud)
• Identity theft
• Vandalism to your mail receptacle.
• Tampering (mail that was handled destructively).
• False change of address.
• Unsolicited Sexually Oriented Advertising
Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions or comments.
Senior Lead Officer Maria Gray
310-444-0744
30469@lapd.lacity.org
