The U.S. Postal Service has alerted local authorities to a rise in the number of “mail fishing” cases, police say.
Plans are underway to install tamper-resistant mailboxes.
The new boxes will no longer have a “snorkel,” the drop-down device that allows folks to drop the mail in -- and the thieves to “fish” it out, using long devices with something sticky on the end.
The hoped-for catch is usually cash or checks, but thieves could also be hunting for personal information they could use to steal someone’s identity.
The new boxes will instead have just a slot for letters.
Clarkstown police, while saying many scams -- especially those perpetrated by fraudsters outside the country -- are hard to catch, said this is one that folks can prevent with a little common sense.
Because nothing is completely fool-proof, they and the USPS are advising the public not to drop off mail at the boxes after the last pick-up.
Nighttime is when most of these “anglers” strike, police said.
Under federal law, mail theft is a felony.
Those convicted of stealing mail could face up to five years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.
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