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Police Seeking Suspects In String Of New Brighton Mail Thefts

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Police in a Twin Cities suburb are asking for the public's help catching mail thieves.

Investigators in New Brighton say there have been a handful of incidents of mail theft in the past week. Some of it ended up being found on city streets.

"Watched her reach in my mailbox, pull an envelope out and start driving," Gretchen Wilnet, of New Brighton, said.

Wilnet, who works from home, happened to be looking outside as a thief tried to steal her mail Wednesday morning. She ran out after her before the thief dropped the mail on the ground and drove away.

"It's been a wide variety," New Brighton director of public safety Deputy Tony Paetznick said.

Police say the mail thefts aren't limited to a specific area of the city. Deputy Paetznick says even if thieves don't get cash, bank account information is also risky

"It's going to end up down the road traded or used out on the internet," he said.

Police are advising residents to take precautions.

"Try to use the drop boxes at the post offices or sign up for online banking to try to get electronic statements," Deputy Paetznick said. "Limit the financial data going in and out of mailboxes."

"I probably wouldn't send stuff out, I'd bring it to the post office to be safe," Wilnet said.

Wilnet told police the thief appeared to be a woman in her 30s with blonde hair, driving a silver car. Police are asking anyone with surveillance cameras to check to see if they've caught anyone involved in these thefts.

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