Mail stolen from mailboxes in Montco community

TOWAMENCIN TWP., Pa. -- Authorities in one Montgomery County neighborhood say someone is stealing mail from residential homes, and then trashing what they don't want.

Residential mailboxes in Towamencin Township have been hit hard this week. What's being targeted is outgoing mail placed in boxes for pickup.

At least nine mailboxes have been hit, according to police. It's identity theft in its rawest form.

"They're looking for any kind of identifying information, credit card numbers, gift cards, birthday cards, things like that," said Chief Tim Dickinson of Towamencin Township. "Checks, you're paying your bill by check, now they have your identifying numbers.

Police are warning township residents to check their bank statements and credit card accounts to insure that fraudulent purchases or cash withdrawals have not been made against their accounts.

"We've identified nine victims so far, but there could be others out there. If you put mail out you're not going to know... until it doesn't show up," said Dickinson.

David Bowera now checks his accounts every day after what he believes was a similar case of identity theft six months ago. Someone stole his identity and wrote a check for more than $2,000.

"Thank God I got it in time. I had to change my checking account, get all new checks, I had to notify everybody who gets paid automatically," Bower said.

The problem was uncovered after neighbors found envelopes that had been discarded by thieves. In some case, personal checks have been found to be missing from the open envelopes.