POWELL, Ohio — The Powell Police Department says it’s working with the United States Postal Service to determine who is stealing checks from the blue boxes outside the Powell Post Office.
Police were not able to share a lot of details about the crime, including how the suspects are stealing the mail. Police told 10TV that someone could have a key to the box or they could fish the mail out of the boxes.
As a result of the crime, Powell police are warning people who pay their bills through the mail to stop using the boxes for now.
“A lot of people have transitioned to paying online, but there are still a group of the population who does not want to use online payment and with that, they have to use the post office. My biggest suggestion is take it inside. We do eliminate the extra steps of that mail transitioning from that person to the next,” said Detective Ryan Pentz.
He said the crime is not unique to Powell.
“Washing checks is something that a lot of agencies around the Columbus area have been dealing with over the last year and Powell is no different. We've received reports where checks have been washed from the postal service,” Pentz said.
Police suspect that the thefts are happening at night when fewer people are around.
Detectives say if you’ve been a victim of check washing, file a police report so you can take that report to the bank.
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