OLIVE TWP, MI (WHTC-AM/FM, Aug. 22, 2022) – Even in these days of electronic mail, paying invoices online and electronic transfers, the seemingly old-fashioned crime of mail theft has reared its head again in eastern Ottawa County.
According to Sheriff’s Detective Captain Jake Sparks, detectives have looked into several larcenies involving businesses in Jamestown, Georgetown and Tallmadge Townships over “the past several months.” In many cases, several checks were swiped from each batch of mail and cashed at banks not only across the state, but even as far west as Arizona and Colorado, totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Despite working with financial institutions to stop payment of these checks and recover the money, as well as with the US Postal Inspection Services, no suspects have been taken into custody. Surveillance video has revealed vehicles that may have been involved, along with a woman who cashed one of the stolen checks.
Aug. 22, 2022; West Olive, MI, USA; A montage of images supplied by the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department of vehicles that may have been involved in a string of mail theft larcenies that has led to a number of checks cashed.
“The Sheriff’s Office asks that the public be aware of strange vehicles attempting to access mailboxes and report strange activity,” Sparks said in a department statement. “Additionally, businesses may want to avoid mailing checks with large dollar amounts, or consider using a locked mailbox, Postal Service dropbox, or having outgoing mail delivered directly to the Post Office.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department or Ottawa County Silent Observer (877-887-45368).
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