Mail box thieves strike again

Jack Daniels of Agoura Hills was surprised when he learned that mail had been stolen from his mailbox. After all, he couldn't miss what he never had.

But the news of the theft didn't come from the Lost Hills Sheriff's Station. Instead, Daniels was contacted by the San Gabriel Police Department and told that certain letters with his name and address were found in the possession of suspects who had been arrested as part of an identity theft ring.

The San Gabriel authorities said mail found in the suspect's possession included a health insurance letter, which contained Daniel's Social Security number.

Luckily for Daniels, the thieves didn't have time to steal his identity and obtain credit cards in his name.

Identity theft victims lose at least $5 billion per year, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Mail thieves steal personal information such as credit card numbers, bank account data, Social Security numbers and telephone numbers to create unauhtorized credit cards and obtain illegal loans.

Daniels wasn't the only local resident to be contacted by the San Gabriel detectives. Apparently several residents living in the Morrison Highland area on Grey Rock Road, Castlehill Drive, Careybrook Drive and surrounding streets had their mail stolen by the same thieves.

"Even though other people's mail wasn't found in their possession it doesn't mean they weren't hit," Daniels said.

Daniels, 58, who had been a victim of identity theft in the past, listened while the police gave him sage advice about preventing identity theft in the future.

Detectives first recommended he use a secure mailbox with a lock, or use the blue Postal Service mailboxes on the street and in other locations.

Regarding home mailboxes, "If someone is putting outgoing mail with the little red flag up, that says, 'Come take me,' you're just inviting the bad guys to come take your mail," said Dep. Shawn Brownell of the Lost Hills Sheriff's Station. "It's an invitation to perpetrators to steal."

People who send checks through the mail are encouraged to use gel pens when writing checks. Crooks cannot easily wash away gel ink with chemicals and insert their own information.

Daniels suggesting buying the pens in bulk and giving them away as presents to family and friends.

On a separate front, he's provided the major credit agencies with a password in his name.

"Before anyone can get credit in my name they will ask for my password," Daniels said. "This is the best, strongest protection (people) can do—everyone must do it."

Other precautions include ordering checks that do not include the account holder's full name. Using just a first initial and last name makes check thievery more difficult for criminals.

Another suggestion is to put a post office address instead of a street address on driver's licenses.

Another prudent move is to order twice-annual credit reports.

Checking only once a year is "like finding out six months ago it rained," Daniels said.

Once a year credit reports are free through the Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov/credit), but imposter services abound on the Internet. Experts caution people to carefully read all conditions before ordering credit reports online.

Today, Daniels also pays for a credit card protection service. Fees and types of services vary widely.

Brownell recommends people make a habit of using shredding machines. The machines also can be used to shred credit card offers since the applications are often obtained and washed by criminals.

Brownell also suggested that when personal checks are ordered they be picked up directly from the local branch. If not, criminals could steal an entire book of checks "in one shot," he said.

Brownell concluded by saying Social Security cards should never be carried in wallets. When it's necessary to carry Medicare cards, they should be photocopies only with the first five digits of the Social Security number blacked out with a permanent marking pen.