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46 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, February 26, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend January 20, 2004 Thieves leave mail scattered on local road Ballots found along the side of a rural Medford road with other pieces of mail Sunday apparently were discarded by identity thieves, police said. Jackson County sheriff’s deputies found about 30 pieces of mail off Carpenter Hill Road. Most were intended for addresses on Griffin Lane and in the 5000 block and higher of Griffin Creek Road, sheriff’s officials said. Ballots for the Feb. 3 special election were mailed Friday. Mail theft has been a growing concern for rural residents, according to police officials. Would-be identity thieves target isolated mailboxes looking for documents containing personal financial information. Sheriff’s deputies typically pick up discarded mail once a week, said Sgt. Eric Fox. Thieves "just grab it and move," Fox said. "Then they throw it in a big pile somewhere." The sheriff’s department transfers mail it finds to the post office, which then redelivers it, Fox said. The department also may send letters to mail-theft victims with tips on how to prevent the crime, he added. Many identity theft schemes finance perpetrators’ drug habits, police officials have said. Mail thefts over recent years have prompted some rural residents to lock their mailboxes. Several strategies can keep sensitive financial information out of the hands of thieves, police say. Have checks delivered to your local bank branch. Advertisement Don’t mail bills from your home mailbox. They could be stolen and the checks inside cashed. Shred or burn documents before discarding. Carry the least amount of checks and identification possible. Don’t print driver’s license numbers on checks. Without it, clerks often are forced to ask for identification, which could stop a potential thief. Victims of mail theft should contact police, police say. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times