From 2016 to 2021, mail theft reports increased by 45%, and they’ve only risen since then. This means that it’s probably a matter of “when” and not “if” you’ll be a victim, as there’s a mail theft epidemic.
Waiting for a package can already be annoying, so if it gets stolen, it’s even more irritating dealing with reporting it, reordering the items, etc. And it doesn’t have to be anything expensive either; simply being a victim of mail theft is bothersome.
You can thwart these criminals though. Here are seven tips to prevent theft of mail so yours stays safe and secure.
1. Collect Your Mail Promptly
The best way to prevent theft from your mailbox is if you’re there when the mailman arrives. It doesn’t \have to be immediate; if you’re in the bathroom, cooking a meal, or out running errands, you should be relatively ok if you collect from your mailbox within an hour or two. Of course, the longer you wait, the riskier it gets.
Obviously, not everyone’s privileged enough to stay at home all the time. So if you’re expecting important documents or packages, see if you can ask your boss to either work from home or clock out early.
2. Opt for Package Tracking and Delivery Alerts
We understand that it can be difficult to ask for time off of work. Or maybe you have a busy schedule and can’t spare any more than a few minutes to wait at home.
By opting for package tracking and delivery alerts, you’ll stay up-to-date about the status of your packages. You can then retrieve them promptly with little waste of time.
3. Request Signature Confirmation
If you’re getting important or valuable items, you should always request signature confirmation. This usually costs extra, but it’s worth it to have peace of mind knowing your mail has a much lower chance of being stolen.
With signature confirmation, this requires that someone’s present to receive the package. This reduces the chances of theft since it won’t allow the delivery person to leave your mail unattended. They’ll have to try again when you’re available, so you can rest easy knowing no one else’s hands will get on your mail.
4. Tell Your Neighbors If You’re Going Away
What if you’re going on a business trip or vacation, and you won’t be home to receive mail for an extended period of time? Then it’s always a good idea to tell your neighbors. This has several benefits for mail theft prevention.
For one, they can collect your mail for you so it’s not sitting unattended in the mailbox. Not only does this prevent theft of mail, but theft of inside belongings too. If there’s no pileup of mail, then it’ll look like you’re still home, which discourages criminals from breaking in.
Also, your neighbors can keep an eye on your property while you’re gone. They can report any suspicious people to you, and also deter them from approaching.
5. Use a Virtual Mailbox
If you don’t have any neighbors you can trust and you’re gone a lot, plus your neighborhood isn’t the safest or most secure, then using a virtual mailbox is beneficial. This is essentially renting an address where you get your mail sent.
The company then opens your mail, scans it, and uploads the scans to a secure site you can access. You can then decide if you want them to forward those pieces to you or shred them. If you have packages sent to them, they can also forward those to you.
A virtual mailbox with a street address is great if you have a small business too. It provides you with a professional-looking address that doesn’t compromise your privacy, as your customers won’t know your home address.
6. Shred Sensitive Documents
You’re not in the clear after you’ve received your mail safely. What you do with it afterward matters just as much, if not more.
Before you throw anything away that has sensitive information on it, shred them so thieves can’t piece together that data.
On that note, if you’re sending anything out (such as bills, checks, or documents), then try to do it online. This reduces the chances of someone intercepting physical mail and having access to all this information.
7. Sign Up for USPS Informed Delivery
This won’t help you prevent mail theft, but it can help you detect it faster. The USPS offers an informed delivery service, which means the mail coming to you is first scanned. This lets you know ahead of time what to expect in the mail.
If you notice that anything’s missing, you can report it immediately. Time is of the essence, and having USPS Informed Delivery can make or break cases, especially if they involve your sensitive data that can be used for identify fraud.
Prevent Theft of Mail With Our Tips
It might not be something you think about often, but theft of mail is a very real threat. It can be something as simple as someone wanting your pricey Amazon delivery or as sinister as criminals wanting your bank details so they can drain every last penny or your credit card information so they can steal your identity.
It might sound scary, but if you’re proactive, then you can hugely mitigate risks. It may take some extra effort and money, but it’ll be worth it in the end when you receive your letters and packages without issue.
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