By Brian King

Mail and package theft occurs year-round and often increases during the holiday season in Clallam County. Thieves may steal mail from mailboxes and take packages left at doorsteps. The following tips can help keep your mail secure:

Never send cash through the mail.

Deposit outgoing mail safely.

Use an indoor mail slot at the post office.

Place mail inside a USPS collection box.

Hand mail directly to your letter carrier.

Do not leave outgoing mail in your home mailbox unattended.

Pick up mail promptly. Avoid leaving it in your mailbox overnight.

If expecting checks, credit cards, or important documents, ask a trusted neighbor or friend to collect your mail.

If you change your address, notify the post office and all businesses you correspond with.

If you are traveling or away from home, ask the post office to hold your mail until you return.

Keep your mailbox in good repair and properly installed.

Consider installing a locking mailbox (consult your local postmaster for approved models). Your Sheriff absolutely recommends a locking mailbox as a vital deterrent in mail theft prevention.

Checks and payments

Pay bills online whenever possible. If writing checks, mail them from inside the post office, not from an outdoor mailbox. If using a mailbox, drop mail close to pickup time — not overnight.

“Porch Piracy”

Package theft peaks from October through January, but can happen anytime. Some thieves follow delivery trucks; others seize packages visible from the street.

Here are ways to protect your packages:

Track packages online so you know when to expect delivery.

Choose shipping options that require a signature.

Ship to a secure alternate location, such as: a trusted friend or neighbor; a workplace (if allowed); a landlord/office manager or apartment leasing office; a commercial mailbox or shipping store (often for a small fee); or request that the carrier hold the package at their local facility for pickup.

Use package lockers where available (Amazon, UPS Access Point, USPS parcel lockers, etc.).

Retrieve packages from your porch as soon as possible.

If away from home, ask a neighbor to collect packages, or pause deliveries.

Report it

Report suspicious behavior to the Sheriff’s Office or your city police by calling Non-Emergency Dispatch at 360-417-2459 (24 hours). This is the dispatch center for all law enforcement agencies in Clallam County.

Report mail theft or fraud to the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) or police. The USPIS Hotline is 877-876-2455.

If you witness a crime in progress, call 911.