If you have to mail anything out over the next couple of days, the United States Postal Service is warning you to not use the Big Blue Mailboxes over the weekend.

The USPS is warning about an increase in the amount of mail theft on the weekend from the Big Blue Mailboxes that are located across the state.

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The reason why is the rise of identity theft. Thieves are stealing mail from those mailboxes and using the mail to steal personal information.

USPS officials noted that the blue mailboxes are ok to use during normal business hours since mail personnel routinely check and collect the mail. They advise to not use those boxes on holidays and weekends. This is when the mail will sit in the box for longer than 24 hours and gives thieves a chance to get into the boxes and steal the mail.

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According to masslive.com, the USPS is encouraging people to come into the post office to send their mail.

“The biggest variable enticing these criminals to steal are customers depositing mail into blue collection boxes after the last collection of the day or during Sundays and federal holidays. If customers simply used retail service or inside wall drop slots to send their U.S. Mail, instead of depositing it to sit outside overnight or through the weekend, blue collection boxes would not be as enticing after business hours to mail thieves for identity theft and check-washing schemes"

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If you do see someone trying to get into a mailbox outside of normal business hours you can contact your local police department or the postal inspectors at 877-876-2455.

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