Lombard police warn residents about fraud due to stolen mail

The Lombard Police Department is warning residents to be vigilant about their financial information after reports of stolen mail from outdoor collection boxes at the Lombard post office.

In a Monday posting made to the village of Lombard’s Facebook page, Lombard police disclosed that collection boxes at 380 E. St. Charles Road were broken into on two occasions during the past two months. There have been subsequent incidents of fraud involving some residents’ bank accounts, according to the post.

Lombard Police Chief Roy Newton declined to elaborate further due to ongoing investigations.

“I asked our communications coordinator to do the Facebook post so that at least our residents will understand,” Newton said. “I want them to know to be careful.”

Mail theft or tampering are federal crimes and therefore fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Nonetheless, the Lombard Police Department Investigations Unit has contacted the U.S. Postal Inspectors Division.

The Chicago office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service was closed on Monday due to the federal holiday.

Residents who experience fraud or lost mail are advised to contact the U.S. Postal Inspectors Office at uspis.gov/report.

As an extra safety precaution, Newton agreed with the advice that any mail involving financial information should be physically deposited inside U.S. postal buildings. Lombard also is asking residents to consider making village payments and transactions online when possible.