| How to Protect Your Mail from Thieves | | | | * Have your local post office hold your mail while |
| U.S. Postal Inspection Service | | | | you're on vacation, or absent from your home |
| Contemporary | | | | for a long period of time. |
| Every day, the U.S. Postal Service safely and | | | | * If you don't receive a check, food coupon or |
| efficiently delivers millions of checks, money | | | | other valuable mail you're expecting, contact the |
| orders, credit cards and other valuable items. | | | | issuing agency immediately. |
| Unfortunately, thieves know this, and are waiting | | | | * If you change your address, immediately notify |
| to steal your mail. Postal Inspectors across the | | | | your post office and anyone with whom you do |
| country work to protect your mail, but with | | | | business via the mail. |
| deliveries to well over 100 million addresses, the | | | | * Always deposit your mail in a blue Postal |
| Postal Inspection Service can't do the job alone. | | | | Service mail collection box or mail slot at your |
| Make it harder for thieves to steal your mail. | | | | local post office, or hand it to your letter carrier. |
| Follow these tips: | | | | Don't place it for carrier pick-up in a mailbox or |
| * Never send cash or coins in the mail. Use | | | | area where it can be easily stolen. |
| checks or money orders. | | | | * Consider starting a neighborhood watch |
| * Promptly remove mail from your mailbox after | | | | program. By exchanging work and vacation |
| delivery, especially if you're expecting checks, | | | | schedules with trusted friends and neighbors, you |
| credit cards, food coupons or other negotiable | | | | can watch each other's mailboxes (as well as |
| items. If you won't be home when the items are | | | | homes). If you observe a mail thief at work, call |
| expected, ask a trusted friend or neighbor to pick | | | | the local police immediately, and then your nearest |
| up your mail. | | | | Postal Inspector. |