City of Renton Contacts
Kevin Milosevich, Police Chief, 425-430-7503
Preeti Shridhar, Deputy Public Affairs Administrator, 425-430-6569
Renton Police Offer Mail Safety Tips
RENTON, WA -- There has been an increase in mail thefts throughout King County. Thieves are looking for mail that contains items they can turn around quickly such as gift cards and/or cash. If they find checks, they’re washing them, making them out to themselves, and changing the amounts.
While thefts happen at all hours of the day, most occur between noon and 2 p.m. or midnight and 2 a.m. Typically, traditional mail boxes are targeted but thieves are also known to pry open locked boxes.
Renton Police offer the following tips to help prevent mail theft:
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Don't send cash in the mail.
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Deposit mail in a mail slot in the post office, at a postal service mailbox, or hand it to your letter carrier. Don't leave outgoing mail unattended in your mailbox for pick up.
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Pick up mail promptly. Don't leave it in your mailbox overnight. If you are expecting checks, credit cards or other valuable items, ask a friend or neighbor to pick up your mail.
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If you change your address, tell the post office and anyone else you do business with by mail.
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If you are going out of town, tell the post office and they can hold your mail until you return.
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Keep your mailbox in good repair and make sure it's properly installed.
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Consider getting a locking mailbox. Ask your local postmaster for the most up-to-date regulations on mailboxes.
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Correspondence and bills, previously delivered via the U.S. Postal Service, can now be sent electronically. Check to see if that is an option.
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Sign up with usps.com for Informed Delivery, a free service that gives you a digital preview of the mail expected in your delivery every day.