Thieves Stealing Mail From Blue Postal Boxes In Cleveland Heights

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — Thieves are stealing checks and gifts from blue mailboxes in Cleveland Heights, police warned this week.

Police believe the thieves snatched keys that open the postal boxes and are now stealing mail from the inside, the department said in a post on Facebook.

"They are looking for checks that people have mailed to pay their bills and altering them, including the name of the recipient and the amount so that they can cash them. Recently we have received reports from residents in our community who have fallen victim to this crime," Cleveland Heights police warned.

It's unclear how many postal keys were stolen, police admitted. Heights residents are now advised not to use blue postal boxes in Cleveland Heights.

"We recommend that for the foreseeable future, that you take your mail directly to the nearest Post Office and deposit your outgoing mail inside the Post Office," police recommended.

Anyone who believes they've been the victim of mail theft should contact Cleveland Heights police to report the incident. The department is working with other law enforcement agencies to investigate the thefts.