Checks Being Stolen In Town, Watertown Police Say

WATERTOWN, CT — The Watertown CT Police Department on Facebook shared a message with residents regarding checks being stolen and "washed" in town.

Police said in the social media post that they have "recently received numerous complaints regarding checks being stolen and “washed” after depositing them in the USPS drop boxes in various locations throughout town."

"The suspects will use some type of device with a sticky agent attached to it to retrieve the mail from the drop boxes and will proceed to change the amount and name on the check they have stolen, leaving the victim unaware until they are either notified by their bank or check their personal statements. Each of these incidents have been reported to the Postal Inspector for further investigation," police said.

"In order to prevent yourself from being a victim of check washing, use the drop boxes located inside both the Watertown Post Office and Oakville Post Office. You may also utilize indelible black gel ink pens to write your checks out which makes the washing process more difficult. For further information regarding how to safeguard yourself from check washing fraud please refer to the link"....here.