Crockett police report mailbox burglaries and multiple check-fraud cases; Postal Inspectors now involved

The Crockett Police Department reported a spike in mailbox burglaries and related check-fraud cases during its February briefing on March 7.

The police chief reported department activity for February: 13 officers on duty, 467 calls for service, 17 traffic accidents, 31 arrests and 92 traffic citations. He said the department has handled roughly 16 check-fraud cases tied to mail theft and that the U.S. Postal Inspection Service has taken over several cases because they involve federal offenses. "We took our sixteenth case involving check fraud," the chief said.

Investigators said suspects are copying checks found in burglarized postal boxes and attempting to cash duplicates via mobile-deposit apps and out-of-area banks. The chief cited individual case losses of $25,000, $30,000 and one case of about $80,000 as examples under investigation. Police asked residents to secure mailed checks (for example, wrap a single check in paper) and to report any suspicious mailbox burglaries to law enforcement promptly.

The department said it will collect banking information in open cases and forward complete files to postal inspectors while continuing to assist the federal investigation.