The Franklin Police Department is actively pursuing a case involving the theft of multiple checks from mailboxes outside the Main Street Post Office. In a troubling series of events, it appears suspects have gained access to the mail drop boxes by using a key stolen during the recent robbery of a postal worker, as reported by Boston 25 News.
According to 7NEWS, the suspects have been "washing" the checks — altering the intended recipient and amount — and subsequently depositing them into their own accounts. Interrupting the tranquility of this small town, residents are now urged to use caution when depositing mail, especially checks, in the outdoor drop boxes.
Local detectives are investigating this matter alongside officials from the US Postal Inspection Service. As the investigations proceed, police are cautioning residents to opt for the security of indoor mail deposits or seek alternative methods for sending sensitive mail. Those who witness any suspicious activity around the post office are urged to contact the police at 508-528-1212.
The surge in such crimes has prompted law enforcement across the nation to issue warnings about check washing and mail theft. One Boston man shared a painful restitution process after falling prey to this scheme, illustrating the pernicious reach of this fraudulent act. Reflecting on these escalating incidents, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy reported a "significant increase in mail theft and associated violent crimes directed at letter carriers" dating back to 2020, as noted in a 7NEWS article.
Authorities, in an attempt to fortify the postal system, have encountered a counterintuitive spike in mail carrier robberies upon heightening security measures for mailboxes. This alarming trend from 64 incidents in 2019 to 412 in 2022 seems to stem from the activities of organized crime groups that have shifted their focus to these "low risk, high reward" financial schemes. In response, Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale emphasized the increased efforts to "protect employees and the mail" and to combat the criminal onslaught targeting the US Postal Service and its workers, as per 7NEWS report.
