Advice on how to keep your mail safe and secure

Two men were charged earlier this week following a rash of break-ins and thefts of mail throughout the Halifax peninsula

CITYnews halifax \ Meghan Groff

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Checking your mail often can help reduce your odds of becoming a theft victim.

That’s according to both Halifax Regional Police and Canada Post.

The advice comes after two men were charged earlier this week following a rash of break-ins and thefts of mail throughout the Halifax peninsula.

Halifax Regional Police say when they arrested the suspects, officers seized mail they believe had been stolen.

HRP’s Cst. Nicolas Gagnon said the department gets reports of mail and packages being stolen throughout the year, so it’s a good idea to not let your deliveries pile up.

“Criminals will typically look for high value items that can easily be concealed or items they can carry away without arousing suspicion,” he told CityNews Halifax in an emailed statement.

“Identity theft is also a concern if anything containing personal information is stolen.”

Anyone concerned about identity fraud can get more information on the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website.

A broken lock on a community mailbox or panel of mailboxes in a multi-residential building is a pretty good tip off that something is wrong, but theft may not be as obvious if your mail gets delivered to an unlocked mailbox on your front porch.

Gagnon said installing a doorbell cameras or video surveillance can help increase security, along with making sure your mailbox is in a well-lit area.

Anyone who believes their mail has been stolen is encouraged to report it to police by calling 902-490-5020.

“If someone has had documents containing personal and/or financial information stolen, we recommend contacting your financial institution and alerting them of the theft,” Gagnon stated.

“You should also contact the issuing agency if you believe your government identification may have been compromised.”

Canada Post says if you’re heading out of town, you can suspend mail delivery until you return.

And if you’ve got an order on the way, you can track your packages online or through the Canada Post mobile app.

“We also offer delivery preferences, available on the Canada Post app, which allow our customers to choose a safe location outside of their home, other than their front porch, such as the side door, garage, etc., provided our letter carriers can access it safely,” the company said.

There’s also a FlexDelivery option where your purchase will be delivered directly to a post office of your choice.