Published: July 2025

By Meridian Mailbox – Cincinnati’s Locking Mailbox Experts

Why Mailbox Security Matters

Mail theft isn’t just about missing packages — it’s often the first step in identity fraud. Standard curbside mailboxes leave homeowners vulnerable to personal information being intercepted and used to compromise bank accounts or steal identities.

This blog exists to give Cincinnati homeowners the knowledge and tools to fight back.

The Incident

In early 2024, law enforcement in Greenwich, Connecticut, arrested an individual who attempted to cash a chemically “washed” check worth $16,277, allegedly stolen from a residential USPS mailbox. Investigators believe the check was intercepted from a mailbox located on Valley Drive and altered to redirect funds to the perpetrator’s account.

Roughly $11,000 was withdrawn before the theft was discovered and stopped.

Authorities reported that multiple pieces of mail were taken from the same mailbox over time—indicating an organized and ongoing theft operation.

Why It Matters to Suburban Homeowners

This incident highlights a growing threat facing homeowners across the country:

• Unlocked mailboxes are easy targets for thieves
• Outgoing checks can be stolen, “washed” with chemicals to erase ink, and rewritten
• Altered checks are then cashed under false identities
• Victims may not notice until bank accounts are drained or fraudulent charges appear

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has warned of a nationwide surge in mail theft and check fraud, much of it rooted in insecure residential mailboxes.