When people break into your letterbox and steal your mail, they have access to all of this information.
Wilson resident and mother of two Karen Jones was recently visiting her son in Cannington and while taking her three-month-old granddaughter for a walk along Channon Street she discovered a bunch of mail, believed to have been stolen, that had been discarded on a front verge.
Continuing her walk, Ms Jones found more discarded mail on the ground along Channon Street and then down Tarun Court and at a park.
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READ NOW‘I want to warn people that this is happening so that they can be aware of the problem,’ she said.
‘People should make sure that their letterboxes are empty so that mail is not obvious by hanging out and to enable the postman to put the mail into the letter boxes properly.’
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics Personal Fraud Survey 2010-11, Australians lost $1.4 billion because of personal fraud.
The survey also estimated 1.2 million Australians aged 15 years and over fell victim to at least one incident of identity fraud in the year prior to the survey interview ” up by 5 per cent from 2007.
Cannington Senior Sergeant Gavin Radice said stolen mail had been an issue in the South Perth and Kensington areas in recent times.
‘Generally offenders are stealing mail looking for bank cards. Be mindful if your card is stolen, the culprits may come back in a few days looking for mail with a possible pin number,’ he said.
Stolen personal information can be used to apply for a credit card, driver’s licence, a job, passport, mobile phone contract and other financial services in the name of their victim.
An Australia Post representative said mail that went missing from a letterbox after it had been delivered was a criminal matter and should be referred to the police.
‘Australia Post recommends customers do not send cash in the mail and instead use money orders, which offer more security and peace of mind,’ the representative said.
Stolen mail can be reported by calling police on 131 444.