Fraud warning issued after series of Derbyshire post box thefts

Derbyshire Police has issued advice to homeowners with external post boxes after a series of mail thefts across Derbyshire.
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In recent months, a number of thefts from insecure post boxes have been reported.

Post containing personal and financial information has been stolen, and documents used to apply for credit cards or loans.

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Because the post is intercepted fraudulently, victims often don’t realise they have been targeted.

posting many letters to red british postbox on streetposting many letters to red british postbox on street
posting many letters to red british postbox on street

Fraudsters then apply for credit cards and loans in their names, and it can be many weeks before the crime is discovered.

Derbyshire Constabulary’s Fraud and Protect officer, Tammy Barnes, said: “In recent months, we have seen a number of thefts from letter boxes across the county.

“While the piles of junk mail may not be of interest to criminals, bank details certainly would be.

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“Recently one of our officers visited a house with an external post box and was able to fit his hand inside and remove the mail. One of the letters was a personal medical record.

“Our advice to homeowners who have an external post box is to check if they are able to remove mail from inside and if so, give some consideration to making some changes. If you can do it then so can they!”