The Douglas County Sheriff's Department is warning residents of northern Douglas County mailbox thieves may have made off with their personal information.
According to Sgt. Tom Mezzetta, the Douglas County Sheriff's Department is investigating the break-in of outgoing mailboxes near the intersection of Haystack Drive and Adobe Street in northern Douglas County.
Two outgoing mail receptacles in the cluster-box stand there had been pried open sometime between 5 p.m. Sunday and 8 a.m. Monday.
Mezzetta said no personal mailboxes in the area showed any signs of tampering.
He said anyone who may have had outgoing mail in those receptacles should notify their financial institutions of the theft. Personal and banking information may have been stolen.
"Everyone is cautioned and reminded that identity thieves often prey upon outgoing mail to obtain personal and banking information. Outgoing mail should only be placed into a secured mail receptacle or mailed directly from the post office," he said.
"Placing outgoing mail in your home mailbox and raising the red flag for pickup signals the existence of mail not only to the mail carrier, but to identity thieves as well."
Identity theft affects an estimated 750,000 people each year with an average loss of $18,000.
