Will Your Tax Rebate Check End Up in the Pockets of Mailbox Thieves?

Mailbox Expert Shares How to Protect Your Rebate

CHICAGO, IL, USA -  February 27, 2008 -  The Bush Tax Rebate Checks may provide one of the greatest mailbox theft opportunities in American history.

“Mailbox theft is already one of the most common crimes in residential communities,” notes Mark Fitzpatrick, President of MailboxWorks.com, one of the nation’s leaders in online sales of residential mailboxes and commercial mailboxes.  

“Imagine the wild calculations that will be turning in the minds of sophisticated mailbox theft rings across the country.  These criminal minds hear the good news of tax rebates but plan on collecting far more their own personal check,” notes Fitzpatrick. “Mailbox theft is already too easy.  These criminals remove mail from your mailbox as easily as it is delivered.  Some are as bold to just follow minutes behind the mail carrier.”

“Every American should take immediate action in securing their mailbox,” notes Fitzpatrick.

Tax refunds are normally delivered over a course of several weeks or electronically. Yet this special tax rebate delivery schedule appears to be a very narrow window of time. When the USPS mailbox trucks roll out with millions of dollars in tax rebate checks, common thieves may follow right behind them – siphoning rebate checks from entire neighborhoods and subdivisions.

USPS Postal Inspectors allow victims to report incidents of mail theft but much of mailbox theft goes unreported and often, even unnoticed.

Most mailboxes in America are sorely outdated, especially when it comes to security. In decades past, the focus on mailboxes was ease of use.  Today, however, the mailbox that opens easily to its owner may also find itself easily opened by a common thief.  

In order to commit mail and/or identity theft, many mail theft rings already seek out inside knowledge on when bank statements, credit card and loan statements, utility bills, checks and other precious documents arrive. As the Bush administration and media outlets regularly report the advent of millions of checks going in the mail, single mothers and families under severe financial pressure may not be the only ones who are waiting for those checks to hit their mailbox.

Americans can fight back with these tips:

• Replace your old mailbox with a locking mailbox that has a slot for the postal carrier to deliver mail and keyed access for the owner to retrieve mail.  A huge selection of locking mailboxes can be found at www.MailboxWorks.com . Mailboxes come in a huge variety of styles, finishes, and even shapes.  Mailboxes can be wall mounted or securely mounted to a post.

• Contact the post office to stop your mail when you are away for extended periods.

• Start a Neighborhood Watch Group in your community

Fitzpatrick notes, “For homeowners and businesses that receive parcels and packages, we recommend larger locking mailboxes designed especially for package deliveries.”

One of the major side benefits of replacing mailboxes is that the newer models also are weather resistant which means magazines and letters will no longer get sopping wet in an unprotected mailbox.  

For Five Free Consumer Tips on Selecting a New Mailbox, email  This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

About MailboxWorks.Com
MailboxWorks.Com, based in Naperville, IL since 1989, stocks hundreds of unique mailboxes in their Chicagoland showroom. The majority of MailboxWorks.com shoppers find and customize their perfect mailbox online. MailboxWorks.com also offers toll-free assistance in selecting the perfect mailbox for your residence or place of business. Call toll-free at 800-824-9985.

About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, president of MailboxWorks.Com, has extensive knowledge of the mailbox industry.  When America’s top residential and commercial builders, architects, and large homeowner’s associations require expert advice in selecting secure mailboxes for their communities, Fitzpatrick is their first call. As rebate checks are processed, Mark is taking immediate steps to help American homeowners burdened with the vulnerability of older mailboxes that lack security features.  Mark is passionate about bringing awareness to the issue of mailbox theft.

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For further information, interviews, or photographs contact:
MailboxWorks.Com
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(630) 355-9989