QUEBEC COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM POST OFFICE FACILITY Le Soleil du samedi:

Mail theft in Mercier

Mail stolen from the post office in Mercier had galling consequences for a few dozen residents of that town. They must remain vigilant to avoid being identity theft victims.

The post office at 9 Marleau street was broken into during the night of March 2-3. The perpetrators stole two computers, money, letters and packages. Some of these envelopes might have contained bills, income-tax statements, credit cards, and all kinds of important documents that the citizens concerned will not receive.

The problem does not touch the entire town of Mercier. In all, 67 addresses on Des Côteaux and Ste. Marguerite Blvd. had the possibility of being affected, according to Canada Post director of communications Louise Roy. An estimated total of 100 letters and packages are said to have disappeared. They were in a bundle of mail that had not been delivered as scheduled a week ago yesterday because of a snowstorm, Roy said. "But not all of the 67 addresses were affected because it's rare that everyone on a given street receives mail on the same day," she qualified. Those renting post-office boxes might also have had lettersstolen . Mail was found scattered on the floor of the room where the boxes are found and it is possible that the thieves may have taken some. Canada Post was planning to send potential victims a notice and a folder regarding identity theft prevention. "Before, when people stole the contents from a red mailbox, it was because they were looking for cheques," Roy said. "Today they are searching for personal information. Potential victims will have to be lying in wait in order to avoid identity theft." If an expected document is late in arriving in their mailbox, citizens affected will have to contact the enterprises or institutions concerned. As for the computers taken, Roy assures that they do not contain any personal information on the post office's customers. Meanwhile, Chateauguay police are on the alert in an effort to solve the crime. The break-in at the post office could be linked to the robbery of two trucks that took place a week ago yesterday at Forage André Roy in St-Isidore. The two vehicles were found in Ste. Martine a few days later. "Several elements lead us to believe that one of them has been used for the theft on Marleau street," explained Chateauguay police spokesperson Nathalie Langevin. "Among other things, the tire tracks and bits of equipment," she added. The Sûreté du Québec's legal identification service took over the responsibility of analyzing the case. Anyone with further information is asked to contact the Chateauguay police Info-Confidentielle phone line at 450.698.3229.(Tr : D.R.)