On April 20, police arrested Hailey Albright on a warrant, following an investigation by Eugene Police Financial Crimes detectives on dozens of identity theft cases in Lane, Coos and Marion counties. During the investigation, which involved a search warrant for Albright’s storage unit, detectives discovered numerous additional victims and stolen mail.
Police are concerned about the information contained in the mail, possibly including checks or other personal information. Detectives have found from previous cases that Albright has used this information to gain access to personal bank accounts in addition to fraudulently scamming the Oregon Unemployment Department by making false unemployment claims.
Detectives investigating the case also found several victims who were unaware of the activity, and other victims who knowingly had property stolen but did not report the information to police. The Eugene Police Department wants to remind the public the importance of reporting criminal activity to police at the earliest convenience to help prevent the activity from continuing and to keep the community and your neighbors safe.
The Property Crimes Unit is continuing to investigate this incident and are asking anyone with information about Albright to contact Detective Chris White at 541.682.5376 or by email at cwhite@eugene.or-gov.
Here are tips from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service about protecting your mail:
- Pick up your mail promptly after delivery. Don’t leave it in your mailbox overnight. If you’re expecting checks, credit cards, or other negotiable items, and you can’t get to it, ask a trusted friend or neighbor to pick up your mail.
- If you don't receive a check or other valuable mail you're expecting, contact the issuing agency immediately.
- Tell your Post Office when you’ll be out of town, so they can hold your mail until you return.
- Report all suspected mail theft to a Postal Inspector.
- Consider starting a neighborhood watch program. By exchanging work and vacation schedules with trusted friends and neighbors, you can watch each other's mailboxes (as well as homes).
- Consult with your local Postmaster for the most up-to-date regulations on mailboxes, including the availability of locked centralized or curbside mailboxes.
https://www.uspis.gov/tips-prevention/mail-theft/