Mail is stolen in Boardman

BOARDMAN -- Boardman police officials are warning residents to be cautious about placing items in their home mailboxes.
The department recently received reports of stolen mail from residents on Carter Circle, Waggaman Circle, Chestnut Lane and Amberwood Trail. They said they had placed mail in boxes for pickup and raised red alert flags, said the department's crime analyst, Chrissie Ross.
In each instance, the mail, unopened, was found along the curb down the street from each home. Ross said that she hopes the four cases are isolated but that she will know more if she hears from others in a month, when they realize payments weren't received by creditors.
"We don't know if it's kids or someone specifically looking for something in the mail," Ross said. "It's a busy time of year. People just need to be extra vigilant."
A main concern is identity theft, Ross said. A thief with someone's credit-card payment, for example, has access to that person's credit card and checking account numbers and signature as well as a toll-free number to the credit card company.
She said postal officials suggest placing mail in the more secure blue U.S. Postal Service boxes. If mail is placed in a home box, it should be left there for no more than one hour.
Ross said residents and postal workers should look out for people or cars that arouse suspicion.
"Pay attention," she said. "We just want people to be aware."