Joplin Police offer tips to stop mail theft

(From the Joplin Police Department)

The Joplin Police Department has recently taken several reports of mail and other parcels being stolen from residences. The reports have indicated that mail is being taken from mailboxes in
residential areas and that packages that are left at residences have also been taken.

We would like to remind everyone of some helpful hints to try and prevent your mail or other
packages from being tampered with.

 Pick up your mail promptly after delivery. Don’t leave it in your mailbox overnight. If you're expecting checks, credit cards, or other negotiable items, ask a trusted friend or neighbor to pick up your mail.

 If you don't receive a check or other valuable mail you're expecting, contact the issuing agency immediately.

 If you change your address, immediately notify your Post Office and anyone with whom you do business via the mail.

 Don’t send cash in the mail.

 Tell your Post Office when you’ll be out of town, so they can hold your mail until you return.

 Consider starting a neighborhood watch program. By exchanging work and vacation schedules with trusted friends and neighbors, you can watch each other's mailboxes (as well as homes).

 Consult with your local Postmaster for the most up-to-date regulations on mailboxes, including the availability of locked centralized or curbside mailboxes.

 Most parcel carriers such as Fed-Ex and UPS allow for special instructions to be left whenever a package is being delivered. This could include having them place your package in a hidden place at your residence.

 Consider having your package delivered to someone that you trust if you know that you will not be home whenever the package is to be delivered.

If anyone has any information about any of these thefts, please contact the Joplin Police Department. You can contact us via phone at 417-623-3131, on our web page at www.joplinpolice.org, or on our Facebook page at www.facebook/JoplinPD .