Garden City Police Warn Of Increased Mail Thefts

GARDEN CITY, NY — A rise in mail thefts has caught the attention of the Garden City Police Department.

With these incidents happening at all hours of the day, Commissioner Kenneth Jackson is alerting residents to take precautions.

• Use secure mail options: Place outgoing mail in receptacles inside the Post Office or hand it directly to your mail carrier. Residents are advised to avoid using the mailbox at the 6th Street Garden City Post Office. Jackson says it has been targeted by thieves on several occasions.
• Avoid sending cash: Never send cash through the mail as it increases the risk of theft.

When writing checks, Jackson also urges residents to use black gel pens, as the ink bonds better with the fibers of the check and more difficult to wash off or alter.

Also, it's best to place the envelope in the mailbox as close to pickup as possible.

Jackson says if you notice any sticky substances on a mailbox, do not drop your mail in it.

The commissioner reports that thieves are employing a method involving a weighted object covered in a sticky substance attached to a string to pull mail from mailboxes. This technique allows them to retrieve envelopes and packages.

He says it's important to stay vigilant.

“If you observe anyone who is not a postal worker removing mail from a mailbox,
please notify the Department immediately," Jackson says.

For more information or to report suspicious activity, you contact the Garden City Police Department at (516) 465-4100.