(WBBM NEWSRADIO) – Thieves sawed their way into a post office mailbox in the southwest suburbs over the weekend, and now police are warning users to be vigilant about their financial information.
Police were alerted to the vandalism and robbery at 6 a.m. Monday. Someone apparently used a “sawzall” tool to cut into the mailbox at 9500 W. 144th Place and then removed some of the contents inside, Orland Park police said on Facebook.
Orland Park Police Cmdr. Kenneth Rosinski said the use of a reciprocating saw appears to be a new method that thieves are using to break into the steel boxes.
"Thieves get creative, unfortunately," he tells WBBM Newsradio.
Police say anyone who used this mailbox between Saturday after 5 p.m. and before 2 a.m. Monday should monitor their financial accounts and credit profiles for fraudulent activity.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Office is investigating. Anyone who may be a victim stemming from this theft can file a report at www.uspis.gov/report.
Robberies of mailboxes have proliferated in recent months, often by criminals who have obtained the special keys that open the containers. In some cases, thieves are changing the information on personal checks to obtain money.
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