Beware of mail theft On a recent trip to the local Chase bank, the teller, noting the Social Security check I was depositing, inquired if I have a locked mail box. I told her I live in my childhood home with the typical tin box for mail. She suggested I might want to re-think that and install a locked box for protection. Apparently, the beach area is being targeted by thieves who remove both incoming and outgoing mail from unlocked boxes. Outgoing mail is taken to obtain account information on credit cards, while checks such as mine are the focus of incoming mail theft. I consider the teller to be a reliable source of information due to her daily contact with hundreds of beach residents. I am now researching what is available in the way of locked boxes. You might want to consider doing the same. As a side note, the “Grandma, I’m in trouble and need you to send some money” telephone scam is alive and well. Beware. -Julie Reed, Pacific Beach