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Thieves Steal Checks, Credit Cards From Mailboxes

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Jun 17, 2008 10:55 pm US/Central

Thieves Steal Checks, Credit Cards From Mailboxes

Reporting
James Schugel
(WCCO) Investigators believe they know whose stealing checks and credit cards out of people's mailboxes throughout the Twin Cities. The group of men and women has targeted homeowners for months.

Lakeville Police were originally tipped-off to what the group was doing during a traffic stop. Police found mail from several different cities in the car.

Local police and Federal Postal Inspectors think the ring operated in the south metro, in Savage, Lakeville and Apple Valley. They also believe the group operated in the north metro, in Coon Rapids, Blaine and Maple Grove. There also could be other suburbs affected.

The key to these cases are the red flags on mailboxes. This group of criminals would drive around to different neighborhoods, pull up to the mailboxes, and pull out and go through all the mail inside.

They kept the checks and credit cards, anything financial and put the rest of the mail back in. Because of that, some homeowners would never know that some of their mail was stolen.

The group wanted Macy's credit cards, and they did quite a bit of damage with the ones they found. Members allegedly racked up $9,000 on one card alone stolen from someone, and that's on top of license tabs and checks taken from the same person.

Police and Postal Inspectors do know who's in the group. Two of the people are in jail for other crimes, but all the others are not in custody. Police are waiting for local and federal charges before they make the arrests.

Meanwhile, they say that just because the group's been busted is no reason to let down your guard.

"Protect what I have," said Cindy Bobal, who lives in Savage. This group didn't steal her mail, but she is taking precautions.

"I don't put the red flag up anymore. I bring my mail with me to work," she said.

She also gets her mail as soon as she gets home. It's smart advice from one Minnesotan for every Minnesotan.

It's the same advice police give to everyone. They say criminals will strike where there's an opportunity, and you can reduce the mail theft around by taking those simple precautions.

 

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