Stealing mail from letterboxes for identity theft and for bank cards

POLICE are urging residents to secure their letterboxes after a spate of mail thefts in Manly and Dee Why in recent weeks.

It’s so easy to steal mail from some letterboxes

POLICE are urging residents to secure their letterboxes after a spate of mail thefts in Manly and Dee Why in recent weeks.

Thieves have targeted credit cards and information that could be used for stealing identities in the thefts ­between November 13 and December 15.

In early November, thieves hit Narrabeen and Queenscliff letterboxes.

Fraud and cybercrime squad Superintendent Arthur Katsogiannis said at the time, on the surface mail theft might seem like a petty crime.

However, local criminals, known as “boxers” were selling documents to international syndicates while keeping bank cards for their own use.

“Information from documents such as bank statements and utility bills is then used by the overseas criminals to apply for large loans in the names of their unwitting victims, thereby defrauding financial institutions,” Supt Katsogiannis said.

“The low-level thieves tend to keep any credit cards they find to fraudulently purchase goods for later ­resale, while the identity documents are provided to the international identity theft operations for the larger frauds.”

Northern Beaches crime manager Inspector Justin Hadley said the recent theft of mail at Manly and Dee Why fell into the same pattern — the thieves were after bank cards and information that could be used to steal the identity of the victims.

It was yet to be determined where the information for identity theft was ending up, Insp Hadley said.

He urged residents to use padlocks on their letterboxes or install improved locks and, where possible, to clear mail regularly or to use post office boxes.

Insp Hadley said residents should also redirect mail or have their friends collect it if they go away on holidays, while strata managers should consider the secure placement and design of letter boxes, and the installation of quality CCTV systems to catch and deter mail thieves.

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