The County of Vermilion River would like to remind residents of mailbox safety to deter would-be criminals with these tips.

Kirk Hughes is the Director of Protective Services for the County of Vermilion River.

“Most of our rural residents utilize Canada Post stand-alone mailboxes, these community mailboxes are often targeted by criminals as they contain; personal information for identity theft, packages and parcels for re-sale,” Hughes told Lakeland Connect. “A good tip to deter criminals is to ensure you are emptying your mailbox on a regular basis – this prevents too much mail being in your slot in the event of a break-in.”

Hughes says another good tip is to have important or expensive parcels delivered to an alternate address like a workplace or an office.

“Peace Officers, as part of their crime reduction patrols, check on rural mailboxes – reporting any issues to the appropriate agency,” Hughes said. “If you see something suspicious, contact the RCMP. If the mailbox needs servicing, contact your local Canada Post outlet.”

Arthur@lakelandconnect.thedev.ca