Rural mail thieves strike again
JOELLE DALLY
Last updated 10:46 17/01/2013

Thieves are again targeting rural mailboxes in the Selwyn District, with one couple losing $15,000 from their business bank account after a chequebook was stolen.

Mail thefts have plagued the district in recent months, with arrests made after a spate in October and November.

Constable Liz Johnson, of Rolleston, said the latest theft was ''not the same but similar'' to earlier thefts.

She said the West Melton couple's mailbox was probably raided in mid-December, but they only recently discovered the theft after realising a chequebook was overdue.

The householder contacted the bank, which said the chequebook had been posted and three cheques had been cashed and one banked.

The cheque amounts totalled $15,000.

In another incident, a householder posted a cheque by rural delivery to pay a bill, which was intercepted by thieves.

The thieves rang the householder and, pretending to be the company, said the account number had changed, Sergeant Jeff Bland said.

The householder then paid to the supplied account number over internet transfer, he said.

Johnson said people with rural letterboxes needed to be diligent when posting through the rural delivery system, and to pick up identifying mail rather than have it posted to them.

This included bank statements, bills, chequebooks, drivers' licences and cash.

New Zealand Post had been notified, she said.

Johnson urged residents who saw suspicious cars to report them to the police immediately.

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