Mail theft is one of the oldest crimes in the book, but it involves more than just crooks opening and emptying your home’s mailbox — it also includes things like theft from postal trucks, mail collection boxes and sorting offices.

Recently, there have been claims in local Massachusetts communities that involve thieves “fishing” mail out of the blue mail collection boxes on the street.

Mailbox fishing involves a thief tying a string to various items covered in a sticky substance into the mail collection box and pulling out mail. The crooks want checks, credit cards and account statements they can use for identity theft. If they find a check, they will use a chemical substance to remove the payee name and amount – leaving your signature intact so the check can be negotiated and still maintain the look of legitimacy.

Some communities have replaced the traditional blue mail drop boxes with a new design that features a single slot with metal teeth preventing anything that’s dropped in from being pulled back out.

Many communities still have the traditional style of mail drop box that you pull down the handle and drop your mail in – this is the style box that is being targeted.

However, there are precautionary measures you can take to protect yourself even if your community still has boxes with the traditional design.  The USPS provided the following tips:

• Hand off your mail to a mail carrier or bring it inside the post office
• Only use a mail collection box before the last collection of the day
• Watch for suspicious substances on the mailbox – such as glue
• Use a gel or felt tip pen to write out your checks, not ball point
• Don’t risk sending cash in the mail