Northeast King County — including unincorporated areas near Redmond — has been experiencing an increase in mail thefts, with 68 reports in a recent 14-week period.

According to a press release issued by the King County Sheriff’s Office, the reasons behind this uptick are unclear. Detectives have arrested several suspects, but mail boxes continue to be an easy target of opportunity for thieves. The suspects are looking for mail that contains items they can turn around quickly such as gift cards and/or cash. If they find checks they are washing them, making them out to themselves and changing the amounts, the release states.

While the thefts happen at all hours of the day, most occur during two different time periods, noon to 2 p.m. and midnight to 2 a.m. The suspects target traditional mailboxes, yet they are not deterred by locking ones either. They will pry open locked boxes and have even gone so far as to use a torch on the hinges on a bank of mailboxes like those found in many housing developments, the release states.

To protect themselves from these thefts, the release advises people to make it a habit to collect their mail every day and to not leave their mail in the box overnight. Also, the release suggests people consider buying a locking mailbox. If they are going on vacation, they should either arrange for a neighbor to collect their mail or ask the post office to hold their mail until they return. When sending mail, do not place it out for the mail carrier; drop it off at the post office. Remember, that red flag is a notice to everyone that there is mail in the box.

Citizens know best what is suspicious activity in their neighborhood. They are urged to call police if they see someone spending time at or near mailboxes or following a mail carrier. Several arrests of mail thieves have happened because citizens called about something they saw that just didn’t seem right.