Residents of Birmingham, Michigan, face a tangible threat that has nothing to do with shadowy online hackers but with thieves, quite possibly walking their streets. According to a CBS News report, the Birmingham Police Department has seen reports involving new or replacement credit cards stolen right out of mailboxes and off porches. The common thread among these thefts is the targeting of pending credit cards, often alerted to customers through email or text by the issuing banks, a modern convenience turned vulnerability.
In the words of the local law enforcement, "Our officers have recently taken reports from residents who have had new or replacement credit cards stolen from their porch or mailbox," as was detailed in a post from the official Birmingham, MI Police Department's Facebook page. One small but potentially ruinous mistake is the residents' failure to monitor these alerts closely, and swift action is advised for those anticipating credit card arrivals that have not yet appeared.
This low-tech brand of theft has prompted the police to issue a practical call for diligence. The advice is simple yet critical: should you expect a card that does not arrive, contact the issuer directly to deactivate and reissue the card, and check your credit report to ensure your identity remains secure. For those unlucky enough to confirm a suspected theft, the Birmingham dispatch can be reached at 248-530-1870 to file a report.
