TULSA, Okla. — FOX23 continues to investigate thefts at United States Postal Service boxes across Green Country.
The ongoing thefts have forced postmasters to close some blue collection bins at 51st and Sheridan, 91st and Sheridan and 71st and Lewis. FOX23 went back to check, and all of those previously closed mailboxes are now open. Thieves had been prying open these boxes to steal checks and fraudulently cash them.
The latest theft happened in Owasso. Last week, the Owasso Police Department said several victims came forward, saying their checks were stolen after placing them in the bin.
Gloria Daniel tried to pay her water bill through the mail. She was shocked when she found out that someone stole her check and sold it on the dark web.
“It’s very, very stressful. Especially when you get up there and you don’t have an idea who is doing this to you,” said Daniel.
Criminologist David Maimon says stealing checks from the mail is an old crime that is becoming popular again.
“It’s not a group of adolescents stealing your mail. We’re talking organized crime groups, who at the end of the day, know exactly what they are doing,” said Maimon.
Criminals wash the checks, change the names and dollar amounts, and then sell them on the dark web.
“I was talking about it at work, and four of my coworkers said the same thing happened to them,” said Daniel.
So, what’s being done to stop this? FOX23 spoke with Postal Inspector Paul Ecker.
“We’re going to use everything in our resources to investigate these fully,” said Ecker. “I’m not going to speak specifically about the investigative techniques that we use, or where we have cameras or don’t have cameras. But rest assured, we utilize everything that we can.”
Many of these collection bins are positioned away from the post office. FOX23 did not notice any cameras nearby, either.
We spoke with one post office customer who shared this suggestion. “Maybe they could use some great technology and make it like the bank, where it goes in a chute and it goes right into the office. We have amazing technology but we don’t use it,” said Mark Cunningham.
©2022 Imagicomm Tulsa, Inc.