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By Shane Clausing

Mail Theft

Grande Prairie RCMP reminding residents to watch for mail theft during holiday season

Nov 26, 2020 | 5:30 AM

The Grande Prairie RCMP is reminding residents to watch out for potential mail theft as the holiday season approaches.

Mounties say that they’ve seen an increase in mail thefts over the past couple of years, specifically in the month of December.

“In 2018 we had 52 complaints of mail thefts within the entire year. In 2019, we had a dramatic increase of up to 179. Within the month of December, in 2018 we had 15 and in 2019 we had 37,” said Sgt. Shawn Graham with the Grande Prairie RCMP.

With December approaching and many people already shopping online because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Graham says police are continuing to see cases of mail thefts this year.

“For 2020, we’ve had a total of 66 complaints. We haven’t reached December yet and usually, that will be a higher month, so we’ll certainly be over 100 once December’s done.”

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Since the RCMP is anticipating a rise in stolen mail cases this year, they’re giving the public tips on what can be done to make sure you aren’t involved in a case of mail theft.

“It could be something as simple as picking up your mail every day,” explained Graham. “And, if you’re going to be away, have someone else pick up your mail, just so it’s not staying there overnight or for an extended period of time, which creates an opportunity for the thieves to get in and take the mail.”

“If you can, track your packages and have those alerts for when your package arrives. If you have security cameras that’s certainly a good thing to have.”

The RCMP has also outlined some other tips for mailbox theft prevention:

• Deposit mail close to pickup time.
• Deposit mail items containing sensitive or financial information, as well as large quantities of mail, at the local post office.
• Inquire about overdue mail.
• Don’t send cash.
• If you will be away, use the hold mail service to suspend delivery until your return.

Graham tells EverythingGP that in terms of their success rate of recovering a package, it all depends on what evidence and information you can provide to the officers.

“Sometimes things do turn up and other times there’s nothing for us to go on.

“We do rely on the public as part of the solution to this. If they see something suspicious, call it in right away, so that we can get over there, because we possibly have a chance to stop a crime in progress.”

Theft of property can be reported at the RCMP’s website, by calling the Grande Prairie RCMP at 780-830-5701 or contacting Crime Stoppers.