LEXINGTON, S.C. — Residents of Lexington and Richland County are growing increasingly worried as reports of mail theft continue to emerge, prompting a call for heightened vigilance.
The thefts have affected individuals like Charles Alexander, who said he recently experienced mail theft at his local post office.
"You think when you put a document in the mail, it’s safe there," Alexander said. "We've had over the past 5-6 weeks a number of friends, including ourselves, who have had checks stolen that have been mailed in the post office."
Alexander, who used a business account, reported that four of his checks have gone missing. While three of the payments were stopped, one check was cashed, causing significant inconvenience.
“That forces someone who had a check compromised to then have to go to the bank, and have to change accounts, change account numbers, it becomes a pretty big situation,” Alexander said.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is aware of the stolen mail cases and is actively employing various investigative tools to identify and apprehend the culprits. However, the agency did not provide further details. Their primary focus is to locate and bring those responsible for the crimes to justice.
Cindy McCormick, whose mother used the St. Andrews Post Office, echoed similar concerns.
“I just want the people to be aware there are people out there stealing checks from the postal service,” McCormick said. "They took her check out of the mail, washed out the pay-to-order of and wrote her name on it, which has caused her a world of hurt."
In light of these incidents, Alexander emphasized the importance of taking the threat seriously.
“I hope it makes people more aware," he said. "Hopefully, these people will be caught."
The postal service urges individuals who observe suspicious activity to report it immediately to the local police or the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455.
In the meantime, the postal inspector's office suggests that residents not let incoming mail sit in their mailboxes.
"If you are expecting a check or an important delivery, Postal Inspectors recommend checking your mailbox daily and removing your mail as promptly as possible," the agency said.
Meanwhile, the postal inspector's office recommends that residents avoid leaving incoming mail unattended in their mailboxes.
"If you are expecting a check or an important delivery, Postal Inspectors recommend checking your mailbox daily and removing your mail as promptly as possible," advised the agency.
For outgoing mail, they suggest depositing it inside a postal facility rather than using outdoor collection boxes to enhance security.