Welcome to Washington Lockbox...where your identy is safe with us!!!
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Rural-style Mail Boxes - Easy Targets
Rural mailboxes make it easy for thieves to get what they want: bank checks, bank statements, credit card bills, credit reports, and right now, refund checks from the IRS.
The hottest local targets according to the Postal Inspector: Bellevue, Renton, Redmond, Woodinville -- in fact, the entire Eastside right now.
In the Seattle area, hot spots are the Bitter Lake neighborhood near 130th and Aurora, much of North Seattle, Skyway and West Seattle.
In the Tacoma area: Browns Point, Gig Harbor, Lakewood and Parkland.
Snohomish County is particularly bad for mail theft, especially the Casino Road area in south Everett. There have also been sporadic reports of mail theft in Grays Harbor County.
Best Defense - Locking Mailboxes
Your best defense is a strong, locking mailbox. You can buy them at Washington Lockbox or online stores for a variety of prices, or you can special order one from companies that specialize in security mail boxes and lockers.
Just remember, you get what you pay for. For the best protection, spend the extra money for a strong, sturdy box that has a strong, high-quality lock. Check with you the post office assigned to your zip code. The post office must approve all locking boxes and their locations, so check, before you buy.
And the Postal Inspector warns: no neighborhood is off limits for mail theft.
"It's not very comfortable, that's for sure," Terry said. " You just don't think about it 'til it happens."
Front Porch Mail Boxes Also Vulnerable
While rural-styles boxes are a favorite target, mail thieves are not above going to your front porch and grabbing everything from the mailbox near your front door.
So, regardless of where you live, or what kind of mailbox you have:
· Collect your mail as soon as possible once it's delivered.
· Cancel delivery if you're going to be gone.
· Never leave outgoing checks or private information in your mail box for the letter carrier to pick up - that's a blatant invitation to steal your mail.
· Keep track of when your bills and bank statements should be arriving, and call the companies immediately if they do not arrive on time.
· Pay attention to suspicious activity in your neighborhood. If you see a suspicious vehicle lurking around, take the license plate number and let the driver see that they're being watched.
For More Information:
call us at 425-290-7827 or use the contacts page for more information on the website...
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