HONOLULU (KHON2) — Three Big Island individuals have been arrested and charged with multiple financial crimes after allegedly using checks stolen from a mailbox.
According to police, the incident occurred in February when the victim’s bank alerted her about suspicious activity on nine drafted personal checks.
HPD said the victim had been expecting a delivery of a new book of checks but never received them.
The victim also reported that the door to her mailbox had been left open several times throughout January and believed the checks were stolen.
Eleven thousand dollars: that’s the amount Hawaii County Police Chief Rio Amon-Wilkins said three people were able to deposit into their accounts using forged checks they allegedly stole from the Big Island woman’s mailbox in January.
A 25-year-old male, 48-year-old female and 49-year-old male have been arrested and charged with multiple counts of theft, identity theft and forgery.
“It’s good to get, you know, hold these guys accountable,” Amon-Wilkins said. “Eleven thousand dollars is a lot of money. And, thankfully, the victim in this case was able to recoup that money from the financial institution. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.”
But he said cases of mail theft are happening far too often.
Dale Dixon, Better Business Bureau Chief Innovation Officer: “Sadly, an unlocked mailbox is an open door for a thief,” Better Business Bureau Chief Innovation Officer Dale Dixon explained. “In this day and age, it’s really important for all of us to take personal responsibility and take as many steps as possible to protect our information.”
Police advise residents to install locked mailboxes for their homes to avoid mail theft for incoming mail.
Many of them will set you back $100 or more, but Dixon said it’s worth the peace of mind.
“When you factor in what the cost, the emotional turmoil, that having stolen checks, the financial cost of having stolen checks, what’s happened to bank accounts, having a locked box, either through a post office or buying a mailbox with a lock and key anything to make it difficult for a potential thief to get access is really important,” Dixon explained.
City Mill supervisor Curtis Radcliff said people come in at least twice a week looking for locking boxes.
“They come to us and is like trying to find ways to secure their mail cause they be saying that people been taking their mail out there,” Radcliff said.
Dixon also suggests signing up for mail delivery notifications–it’s free from the USPS, and taking advantage of other online services banks offer. If you need checks delivered, get them sent to your bank. They can notify you when they arrive.