The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating several cases of stolen checks from residential mailboxes that were subsequently forged and cashed.

“We are encouraging residents to take precautions, such as using secure mailboxes for incoming mail and hand-delivering sensitive items like checks, directly to the post office to help prevent becoming a victim of mail theft.  I would also urge citizens to use the inside drop box at the post office.  In at least one of the cases involving mail theft, the check was intended for property tax payments.  If you paid your taxes by check and left it in your mailbox for pick-up, we strongly encourage you to verify that your check has been cleared and your taxes are recorded as paid,” Sheriff Stitch Guillory said.

The cases are currently under investigation and no arrests have been made at this time.  If you have any information or discover your check was stolen or misused, please contact CPSO at 491-3605.

To check and see if your property taxes are recorded as paid you can call the CPSO Tax Office at 491-3680 or view your balance on the website at https://snstaxpayments.com/calcasieu.