Investigators bust mail theft ring

Investigators bust mail theft ring

December 20, 2006

By ERICA ESTEP
6 News Reporter

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- In a case 6 News has been investigating for weeks, police and postal inspectors cracked a mail theft ring in Knox County. It involves stolen checks, fraud and even drugs.

On Wednesday Christine Diane Byrd, 36, faced a federal judge on theft and check fraud charges. 

Michael Dewayne Carter, 42, and Sheila Norman, 44, were also arrested in connection with this scam.

The crooks in this case were randomly cruising through Knoxville neighborhoods looking for outgoing bills. They would steal checks from the mailbox, wash the ink off and re-write them.

6 News found a victim of the scheme who is now fighting to restore her good credit. Pat, who asked not to reveal her last name, says she has been living a nightmare for months. She never dreamed that putting outgoing bills in her mailbox could cost her so much.

"They opened up every one of those. They took the checks and there is a solution that you can make and wash the check. It washes off all my ink," Pat says. 

Working as a team, the crooks removed her bills and what she wrote on them. Then they cashed in.

"They bought gas. They bought beer. They bought cigarettes. I was really fortunate. They could have bought a car. They could have put a down payment on a house," Pat says. 

Before she knew it, about $1,000 was stolen from her checking account. "This happened between 8:00 and 10:00 on a Friday morning. Many of those checks were used Friday afternoon."

Postal inspectors say the crooks used a common method of casing neighborhoods looking for the red flag to signal your letter carrier to pick up what's inside.

Pat discovered the problem before all her checks had cleared and immediately closed her account. But then the bill collectors started to call. "These people were very rude, very nasty. I tried to be very patient with them, accommodating, explain to them that I was the victim here. They didn't care."

Pat no longer puts outgoing mail in her box. She takes it straight to the post office.

Postal inspector Wendy Boles adds, "If you have to use your mailbox for outgoing mail, try to put it in there close to the time your carrier comes or hand it to the carrier."

You could also put your mail in blue collection boxes, often found at shopping centers.

Incoming mail can be a target too so check your box every day and get rid of what you don't need. "Anything that you're finished with, don't just wad it up and put it in the garbage, shred it," Boles says. 

Other tips:

• If you're going out of town, call the post office to put a hold on your mail until you return. Report any suspicious activity in your neighborhood to police.
• If you don't receive a check or other valuable mail you're expecting, contact the issuing agency immediately.
• If you change your address, immediately notify your post office and anyone with whom you do business.