By Mary O’KEEFE
Crescenta Valley Sheriff Station deputies have seen an increase in the number
of mail thefts in the area. With the holiday season more people are receiving and shipping packages from their home. “This is a good time to remember not to leave your incoming mail or outgoing bills outside your home for pick up,” said Sgt. Ray
Harley.
A La Cañada woman had ordered several items of clothing from a local department store to be shipped to her home. She ordered the items in November but never received them.
On Dec. 3 an employee at the store informed her that the items had been returned and a gift card was issued for the value of over $1,000. It appeared the suspect took the items after they were delivered to the victim’s home, returned them for a gift card and then purchased other items, Harley said.
In another recent incident, a La Cañada man had left seven checks in his mailbox for the U.S. Postal Service carrier to pick up. He later discovered that six of those checks had been forged by someone and cashed, according to CV Sheriff’s report. “The suspect altered the checks and cashed them,” Harley said. “Sometimes [suspects] can change the amount of the
checks [too].”
Residents should take their bills and letters to the post office to mail and not leave them at the door, he advised. A signature can be requested for delivery with most shipping companies like Federal Express and U.S. Postal Service. Check with local shipping companies to find out what options are available, Harley said.
Residents who have packages shipped via UPS can have it held a one of the two local UPS stores. “We have what is called a ‘virtual doorman,’” explained a UPS spokesman. The resident can go into one of the UPS offices at 2629 Foothill Blvd. or 2029 Verdugo Blvd. and present their identification before the package arrives. The UPS representative will then be able to accept the package at the office and hold it until the customer arrives.
Anyone who has had their mail stolen is asked to contact the CV Sheriff’s Station or Glendale Police Department.