Couple lose 2k from mail fraud: Pair believe crooks stole post from letterboxes

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http://www.maldonandburnhamstandard.co.uk/resources/images/4738296.jpg?display=1&htype=0&type=mc3A RETIRED couple have had almost £2,000 stolen after fraudsters took their mail.

Jennifer Abbott and Alan Long believe thieves with a mail box master key stole their post and used their details to steal £1,500 and spend £483 at Asda, in nearby Turner Rise.

Credit cards for the Royal Bank of Scotland, Santander and Debenhams were also set up in their name.

Ms Abbott and Mr Long, who live in a flat in Bradford Drive, Colchester, were horrified to see £500 disappear on three occasions and the enormous Asda bill, which appeared on their bank statement earlier this month.

They only found out about the credit cards when they opened letters containing pin numbers.

The pair fear post was stolen from their mail box, in a communal area, while they were away on holiday.

It is the second time in five years fraudsters have targeted flats in the area, after at least two residents had several thousands of pounds stolen in the same way in 2011.

Ms Abbott, 67, said: “We are living on a knife-edge.

“It is awful and nobody is dealing with it.”

The pair spotted a suspicious man getting out of a black Volkswagen Golf on Thursday. He drove away when Mr Long went to take a picture of him.

saw two of them in the car and one of them got out and walked towards the door.

“Alan went to take a picture and he turned round and walked away. The car was facing out in the middle of the road, ready for a fast take-off. I want everybody in Colchester to be on the lookout for these people. They are getting away with it.

“If we hadn’t come back when we did, they would have used all those credit cards. It is the worst thing I have ever been through.”

Martin Goss, borough councillor for Mile End, said: “I dealt with this about two years ago and it’s potentially the start of people being victims of fraud here again. It’s disgraceful and it’s disappointing it’s returned a couple of years later. The police need to act on it.”

A spokesman for Essex Police confirmed they are investigating reports of mail being stolen from flats in Bradford Drive between January 13 and February 2.