Langley RCMP auxiliary constables have been busy knocking on hundreds of doors of potential identity theft victims.
“Our auxiliary officers knocked on anywhere from 300 to 500 doors where the home owner may have been a victim of identity theft through mail theft,” said police spokesperson Cpl. Holly Marks.
The residents were given an information package about identity theft and what to do about it.
This measure was taken after Langley RCMP had to put out a warning about the high levels of mailbox theft taking place. Police said in one day, 18 mailboxes were pried open and mail taken.
“We have one unit working almost around the clock on this,” said Marks last week. “We are also working with other jurisdictions like Surrey and Maple Ridge because they are being hammered with the same problem right now.”
Marks said police are making some progress in their investigation, but warn that people still need to pick up their mail as quickly as they can each day.
Langley resident Linda-Ann Bowling, who had her vehicle broken into at Aldergrove Park last month, with all her identity taken, just got a call from a Langley RCMP constable informing her that community mailbox was broken into.
He told her that he was in possession of a cheque made out to her that had been stolen from her mailbox.
Police told her that the identity theft unit in Langley is sifting through hundreds of pieces of stolen mail.
On Oct. 25, police found an abandoned vehicle smashed into a power pole. It was filled with thousands of pieces of stolen mail in Brookswood.
The stolen truck was found in the 3200 block of 200 Street. The driver fled the scene. Police found a large quantity of stolen mail that had been taken from all over Langley and parts of Surrey.
At that time, police warned residents who are victims of mail theft to monitor their bank and credit card amounts looking for suspicious activity.
Police said they had notified Canada Post about the increased mail theft.
Canada Post has not returned calls from The Times.
