By Alexander Darling
A superannuation fund has alerted its 1 million members that their personal or financial information could be in the hands of criminals after thieves stole mail from Australia Post’s Melbourne GPO boxes.
Mercer Super, which also administers Virgin Money Super, sent out the alert on Wednesday after learning that some of its members who had sent mail to its Melbourne GPO box in July may have been affected.
The Australia Post office at 380 Bourke Street was burgled four times in 11 days.Credit: Alexander Darling
Australia Post has confirmed it is “aware of unauthorised access and theft of some mail articles” on four occasions between July 6 and 17, and police confirmed they are investigating.
“It’s believed the offender or offenders have entered the building on four occasions, stealing items from inside. No arrests have been made at this stage and the investigation is ongoing,” officers said in a statement on Wednesday.
An Australia Post spokesperson said thieves had broken into a mail-sorting area in the rear of the post office at 380 Bourke Street.
“The offenders were able to force entry into a back-of-house area used for sorting mail and distributing letters into PO boxes on three occasions, and, on the fourth, left immediately when deterred by additional security measures,” a spokesperson said.
“The offenders caused significant damage on entry into the facility, which was promptly repaired, and additional security measures were put in place after each break-in.”
The spokesperson said Australia Post had advised potentially affected customers of the unlawful access to their post office boxes, and apologised for “the inconvenience caused by these criminal acts”.
“Unlike parcels, letters are not tracked, and Australia Post is unable to identify individual mail items or boxes targeted by the offenders,” the spokesperson said.
“Registered mail items are handled in a separate area of the Melbourne GPO Box Room facility that was not affected in the break-ins.”
A notice telling customers the box room is being moved.Credit: Alexander Darling
Mercer Super said it did not yet know how many of its members had been affected, but believed the incident had not impacted members’ accounts.
“We do not know the exact number of members that may have been impacted. We can confirm that the potential impact is limited to members who sent mail via post to our Melbourne GPO box in July and have not received an acknowledgement from us,” Mercer said in a series of online FAQs on its website.
“As the breach occurred at Australia Post’s Melbourne GPO, we were unaware of the issue until recently.”
Mercer has reported the incident to the Australian Information Commissioner and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority.
Thieves broke into a mail sorting area at the rear of Melbourne GPO boxes.Credit: Alexander Darling
The Australia Post spokesperson said plans were under way for the GPO boxes to move to a new, custom-designed premises nearby next month.
Victoria Police advises people who have had their mail stolen that they can make a non-urgent report to them, either online or by calling 131 444.
People worried their identity has been stolen can also contact IDCARE on 1800 595 160.
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