MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. — Eleven people have reported a combined 14 personal checks stolen and the Martin County Sheriff’s Office believes there could be more victims after thefts from three post offices.
The victims mailed the checks through the United States Postal Service in late July and early August, according to the incident reports, and the checks were digitally manipulated — or “washed” — and then cashed for about $110,000.
In one case, a check was changed from $85 to $6,085. In a separate case, a check was manipulated for $35,000.
Martin County Sheriff William Snyder confirmed the thefts happened at post offices in Hobe Sound, Palm City and Stuart and “bags of mail” remain missing.
“Our detectives are working with [USPS] on just exactly what the MO is,” Snyder said. “How are they getting back in there? You know, mail bags come and go. There’s a lot of mail moving through. We’re not exactly sure just yet.”
