Evesham police looking for suspects in Marlton mail thefts
MARLTON, N.J. (CBS) -- Evesham Township police witnessed multiple people stealing mail from a U.S. Postal Service mailbox as they investigated a cluster of mail thefts over the past few months.
Police released the first images of the people they're looking for on Friday. Investigators say the spree started in June, hitting multiple boxes but they've come back to the drop box at the Marlton Post Office on Main Street multiple times.
Their target according to police are checks that they can then wash and reuse. But the suspects got away, and now police are looking for help finding them.
"It then allows them to alter the check and make it payable to another party and they can increase the value of the check," Evesham Police Chief Walt Miller said.
Police said on Wednesday, they saw suspects taking mail out of the drop box behind the Marlton Post Office. As officers approached, the suspects drove away in a dark-colored Lincoln SUV with Pennsylvania license plates.
Police did not chase them due to the risk to the public.
Investigators believe the thieves have access to a master key to the drop box. It's unclear how they got that.
"We didn't pursue the vehicle due to the fact that it drove towards a highly-populated area of the community," Miller said. "And during the time of that incident, there was a large carnival going on."
But police didn't come away empty-handed. Investigators found the car and are working with local departments across the area.
"There's departments throughout the tri-state area that are having similar type thefts," Miller said. "Whether they're related to this or not we're unsure at this time."
Victims now have to submit claims to their banks to recover their money.
Anyone who deposited a bill payment or check in that drop box between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Wednesday should cancel that payment or check, police said. They say if you need to mail a check at the Marlton Post office right now – go inside the building and do it there.
Mail thefts in Marlton have increased significantly since June. Police are aware of 30 victims and the total amount of money lost is over $160,000.
A victim spoke to CBS News Philadelphia reporter Ryan Hughes earlier this month.
"Our check we wrote for this company showed up with someone else's name and a different amount but still our signature on it," she said.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service says if you believe a check was stolen through the mail, contact your bank or credit card company right away. They also encourage you to submit a complaint online and recommend dropping off your mail and any checks or payments inside the post office.
Mail thefts part of national trend
This summer, some experts warned Americans not to mail checks, citing a rise in thefts. They said putting checks in blue drop boxes in particular should be avoided.
A rash of thefts from blue collection boxes in Milwaukee led to the break up last month of a criminal ring. The suspects allegedly used stolen "arrow keys," or a universal USPS key that opens mail collection boxes, to pilfer mail, including more than 900 stolen checks, according to a criminal complaint.
Mail thefts more than doubled in 2021 compared to 2020, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service told CBS News.