| With identity theft being the new age crime, it is | | | | will have your own key and they come with |
| interesting to note that the easiest way to get to | | | | package boxes to, so if your mail delivery person |
| your identity is through your mailbox! You know | | | | can't put in your box or slot they can put the key |
| from experience that it only takes a few short | | | | in your slot and for you to pick up. The only |
| seconds to collect your mail, so wouldn't it be | | | | downside to this is you will have to contact your |
| logical that a thief knows that? So how can you | | | | local postmaster or your apartment manager and |
| protect an entire neighborhoods mail? It is a very | | | | gain their approval, but I am sure it won't take |
| economical and easy solution. | | | | much to do that! |
| First off, identity theft is defined as an impostor | | | | The greatest thing about this is if you can get |
| who steals another persons' identity such as a | | | | together with your neighbors, each of you can |
| license or social security number and uses it for | | | | pay an equal amount and make it cheaper on all |
| their own personal gain. In other words when a | | | | of you. If you have a neighborhood watch |
| thief gets into your unsecured mailbox, he or she | | | | program, you can discuss this at your next |
| can get a hold of a lot of personal information and | | | | meeting! If you are wise you could even put it in |
| use for their own gain. Think about what can | | | | a location that you can build a cover to protect |
| come in the mail to your residence. You receive | | | | you and your neighbors from the nasty weather, |
| such items as; your new bank checks, your | | | | it would be a little extra expense, but still it would |
| information from the government (social security, | | | | be a cool neighborly way to meet everyone and |
| unemployment info etc...), pre-approved credit | | | | get to know them, or keep up with the |
| cards and bills with your information on it, a thief | | | | neighborhood gossip. |
| can use this information to ruin your credit and | | | | Cluster mailboxes can be a great, economic way |
| your retirement! | | | | for a neighborhood to protect or at least help |
| So what can you do to protect your | | | | protect your identity. Because as you can see or |
| neighborhood? Or your Apartment complex? Buy | | | | should I say read, the identity thief does not need |
| or get a cluster mailbox unit that can hold from | | | | modern technology to rob a neighborhood of its' |
| 8-16 of you and your neighbors mail. Each of you | | | | identity! |