Mail & Package Safety
Mailbox theft from residential or US Post Office mailboxes on street corners or unattended locations are still common crimes in PVE and surrounding communities.
Many of us receive checks and other important information in our mailboxes. It is best to ensure that you have mailed delivered to a secured mailbox location to prevent stolen mail, identity theft and other crimes.
Packages are frequently taken from front porches by crews that are monitoring the area. Packages at your front door also indicate that you may not be home, inviting a possible break-in.
Use these tips below to protect your mail and packages from inviting crime to visit your home or business.
If you see something, say something – call 911 for emergencies or 310.378.4211 for non-emergencies
Many of us receive checks and other important information in our mailboxes. It is best to ensure that you have mailed delivered to a secured mailbox location to prevent stolen mail, identity theft and other crimes.
Packages are frequently taken from front porches by crews that are monitoring the area. Packages at your front door also indicate that you may not be home, inviting a possible break-in.
Use these tips below to protect your mail and packages from inviting crime to visit your home or business.
- Don’t put checks or important documents in your mailbox for the mail carrier to pick up.
- Don’t leave mail in a US Postal Service blue box overnight (unless USPS box has the very tiny slots to prevent this crime).
- Do take your mail to the post office and drop off at the window inside or in blue box if the mail slot is tiny so “fishing” can’t take place.
- Do invest in a camera or doorbell system that alerts of activity on your porch or yard.
- Do check your home mailbox shortly after delivery, especially if it is on the street and not locked.
- Do consider getting a locking mailbox or even a locking delivery box for packages.
- Do have packages delivered when you are around or to a secured delivery location, such as a UPS Store.
- Do consider signing up for USPS Informed Delivery (hyperlink: https://informeddelivery.usps.com/box/pages/intro/start.action)
- Do notify PVE PD if you have package or mail theft. It is helpful for our police to know where crimes are occurring.
If you see something, say something – call 911 for emergencies or 310.378.4211 for non-emergencies
Mail Theft Occurs on Our Streets - Protect Your Incoming Mail
Mail theft is occurring on our streets. People have been known to drive up our streets, systematically taking contents. They typically wear gloves, open mailboxes review and take what they want and discard other items in the gutter, the next mailbox or somewhere else.
Let's be proactive and slow down this crime and protect your identity and other important information.
Tips for Incoming Mail Safety
Regulations to Check for Installing Mailboxes
Local Places to Find Locking Mailboxes
Mail theft is occurring on our streets. People have been known to drive up our streets, systematically taking contents. They typically wear gloves, open mailboxes review and take what they want and discard other items in the gutter, the next mailbox or somewhere else.
Let's be proactive and slow down this crime and protect your identity and other important information.
Tips for Incoming Mail Safety
- Make sure you remove mail from your mailbox every day. Ideally, if you know when your mail is delivered, go out at that time.
- Install a locking mailbox to help prevent curbside theft
- Relocate your mailbox to a location that drops into your house or garage
- Consider obtaining a PO Box
- Don't leave outgoing mail unattended
Regulations to Check for Installing Mailboxes
- PV Homes Association: Go to their website to find out regulations and permits that might be required.
- City of Palos Verdes Estates: Go to their website to find out regulations and permits that might be required.
Local Places to Find Locking Mailboxes
- Lunada Bay Hardware, PVE: (310) 377-3588
- O'Kells Fireplaces, Hermosa Beach: (310) 376 3448
Mail Theft Occurs at USPS Mailboxes on Curbs - Protect Your Outgoing Mail
Blue USPS mailboxes commonly seen on street corners or in front of buildings are a target for theft. People will go up to these mailboxes and use sticky substances to fish mail out of the box.
Some residents may also put their outgoing mail at their mailbox or front door. These are also vulnerable spots for theft if the location is not constantly monitored.
Our PVE PD and other authorities recommend putting outgoing mail into a secured location, such as inside a US Post Office.
Tips for Outgoing Mail Safety
Blue USPS mailboxes commonly seen on street corners or in front of buildings are a target for theft. People will go up to these mailboxes and use sticky substances to fish mail out of the box.
Some residents may also put their outgoing mail at their mailbox or front door. These are also vulnerable spots for theft if the location is not constantly monitored.
Our PVE PD and other authorities recommend putting outgoing mail into a secured location, such as inside a US Post Office.
Tips for Outgoing Mail Safety
- Drop mail inside a Post Office
- Give mail directly to the Postal Carrier
Porch Pirates are on the Prowl - Protect your Home
With more people having home package deliveries, it creates an invitation for “porch pirates” to move into action.
Porch pirates are usually in teams of two, who either follow delivery trucks or cruise neighborhoods looking for packages they can take from residents’ front doorsteps.
Finding ways to outsmart these teams keeps them from coming into our community. Let’s make sure we show that we are preventing crimes of opportunity – and the accompanying frustration and violation. Also, prevent your home from looking like no one is there.
* The tips and information on this page are provided as a service to PVE Residents as a way to help protect them from harm. We have done our best to get this information from reliable sources. Residents should take steps to confirm if these are right for their situation.
With more people having home package deliveries, it creates an invitation for “porch pirates” to move into action.
Porch pirates are usually in teams of two, who either follow delivery trucks or cruise neighborhoods looking for packages they can take from residents’ front doorsteps.
Finding ways to outsmart these teams keeps them from coming into our community. Let’s make sure we show that we are preventing crimes of opportunity – and the accompanying frustration and violation. Also, prevent your home from looking like no one is there.
* The tips and information on this page are provided as a service to PVE Residents as a way to help protect them from harm. We have done our best to get this information from reliable sources. Residents should take steps to confirm if these are right for their situation.