Thieves taking mail from outside Newport homes

Newport Beach police warned Monday about an uptick in package and mail thefts in the city.

Police said residents reported eight such crimes between May 5 and Saturday.

Packages were reported stolen from the front of homes in the 200 block of Morning Canyon Road, the 500 block of Acacia Avenue and the 2000 block of Yacht Defender, according to police. In the other incidents, items were taken from mailboxes throughout the city, including two on Port Carlisle Place and one on Balboa Boulevard.

“Never leave your deliveries unattended on your front porch,” police said in an email.

Officials also recommend dropping off outgoing mail at a secure location and never leaving mail overnight in a residential box.

“Mail thieves look for bank statements and credit card bills, which can be used to create counterfeit checks or fake identifications,” police said.

— Jeremiah Dobruck

Twitter: @jeremiahdobruck