The Sheriff’s captain of the Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Station, and the chief of police for Yucca Valley and Twentynine Palms, was the guest on the Up Close Show Friday (February 26). Captain Luke Niles discussed many topics related to law enforcement. Reporter Cassidy Taylor says Niles addressed mail theft during the show…
“When times get a little tough, you see mail, theft type crimes rise. 2020 was a perfect example of tough times for people. And proportionally we saw mail theft increase.”
Walking out to see your mailbox has already been opened and your mail has been stolen really puts a damper on your day.
“A lot of times the theft of the mail may include a check, and that check gets altered, and then later cashed or deposited somewhere. A lot of times it is in its birthday cards that may have some cash in it and things like that. But then on the flip side, there is a huge market for identity theft.”
Captain Luke Niles said that the Sheriff’s Department will always do its absolute best to communicate with anyone who has been victimized by mail theft and that the department works with postal inspectors, who have a lot of the jurisdiction over mailing services. Investigations can be complicated, so in the meantime, Niles offers this advice to avoid becoming a victim…
“Invest in a locking mailbox. Often those crimes are crimes of convenience. And if you make something inconvenient, with the hopes might be that that particular individual is going to steal from you may move on to something else makes it difficult. make it difficult.”
