Police deliver mail warning

By Alex Cameron, NEWS 9

Oklahoma City police are warning residents that mailboxes could pose a security risk.

Whether it's something you're sending out, or something being sent to you, police say anytime you allow mail to sit in an unlocked mailbox, you put yourself at risk of having it stolen.

"What you have to remember is mail is something of value," Sgt. Gary Knight said.

Knight said the department doesn't specifically track cases of mail theft, but warns that identity theft is the fastest-growing crime in the world. Stealing mail is one of the ways criminals can steal someone's identity, Knight said.

The solution, Knight said, is to try to grab your mail as soon as it's delivered or get a mailbox that locks. Police also recommend mailing all outgoing mail, especially bill payments, at the post office.

"Because basically you're taking this information about yourself, your name, address, phone number, and bank account information, and you're putting it at the curb, where anyone can drive by and take it."