Woman Part Of Mail Theft Ring Charged With Forgery, Fraud: Police

INGLESIDE, IL — A 34-year-old Ingleside woman is facing charges of forgery and mail fraud after authorities said she was part of a group that stole and illegally cashed checks.

Kristin A. Siminak was charged Tuesday with three felony counts of forgery and one felony count of mail fraud, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators said Siminak was part of a mail theft ring that would steal mail from open mailboxes and "chemically alter" any checks they found so they could cash them multiple times. Siminak and one other person were arrested by Antioch police in connection with the ring last week.

As of Wednesday, officials said Siminak remains in jail in lieu of $4,000 she would need to put up towards her $40,000 bail.

To prevent being the victim of mail theft, officials said residents should consider getting a mailbox that requires a lock and have their post office hold their mail when they are out of town.