Cops warn of identity thieves

Suspects targeting mailboxes in the Grand Valley

POSTED: 05:24 PM MST Dec 14, 2012    UPDATED: 05:27 PM MST Dec 14, 2012 
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. -

Local mailboxes are becoming a prime target for thieves in the area, something police say they've seen all too often recently.

"A lot of people this time of year are sending out their holiday cards or they're sending gift cards by mail," explained Kate Porras, spokeswoman for the Grand Junction Police Department. "And unfortunately, locally, some of the thieves have realized that they can go around to some of the boxes that have the little red flag up and look for those type of things in those mailboxes."

Police have also received several reports of mail being stolen out of mailboxes which is then used to steal people's identities.

They say some of the mail contained personal checks which were altered by the thieves and used to print checks with fake account holder names.

The GJPD says if you have to mail a check or a gift card, you should use only secured US Postal Service mailboxes.