Maryland
Maryland customers had checks and money orders altered and stolen after mailing them from local post offices
When you write out a check and put it in the mail, you expect it to arrive at its proper destination and to get cashed by its intended recipient. But a number of Maryland customers recently learned the hard way that this outcome isn’t always a given.
According to WMAR-2 News, several people mailed checks and money orders from their local post offices only to learn that those payments were later altered and stolen. In fact, three customers reportedly had their checks stolen at two local post offices during the span of a few weeks.
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Darlene Mclean sent payments through the post office to cover her mortgage and a BJ’s credit card bill, but those money orders were altered and cashed by a criminal. Now, Mclean is struggling in the absence of those funds.
“I’m without money. Mortgage not paid, and now they’re coming after me,” Mclean told WMAR-2 News. “I’m suffering from it. I’m depressed behind it. I can’t sleep. I’m really upset.”
When you can’t trust the post office
John Curtis, one of the customers who had money stolen, decided to mail payments from directly inside his local post office as opposed to simply dropping envelopes into a community mailbox. Little did he know that this seemingly safer option would backfire on him, as the $323 check that he had written to pay for his insurance was reportedly changed to $900 for “equipment.”
“I put my policy number on the bottom, all of that was gone,” said Curtis, who wound up having to close his bank account and open a new one in order to re-route other payments and deposits. Curtis has a sick wife and has been in and out of the hospital himself, so this was the last thing he needed, he told WMAR-2 News.
The three customers who fell victim to the theft reportedly mailed their payments at two different post offices — Windsor Mill and Arlington Station — all within a few weeks of each other. Angela Powell sent a $420 payment to her insurance company, but she learned the next day that it had been altered to $6,250 for a supposed “college fund.”
“They took my check from Windsor Mill post office to SECU Bank in a matter of 24 hours.”
Thankfully, Curtis and Powell were both reimbursed by their banks for the missing funds, but Mclean has not yet received reimbursement for her stolen money.
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Postal authorities reviewing the situation
In response to WMAR-2 News’ request for comment, a spokesperson from the United States Postal Service (USPS) issued the following statement.
“The Postal Service takes the security of mail seriously and always promptly refers allegations of mail thefts to the appropriate law enforcement agency. Mail thefts by anyone will not be tolerated.”
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which investigates mail theft, also shared a statement with WMAR-2 News.
“Our Baltimore Field Office was not aware of these complaints. The theft of mail and ensuring the sanctity of the US Mail-stream is of the utmost priority to the US Postal Inspection Service. We encourage customers to mail their checks from inside of the post office if possible, or before the collection time when utilizing the blue collection boxes.”
Given that the three incidents of theft above occurred in close proximity to each other and within a short timeframe, there’s a question as to whether a postal service employee may have been the perpetrator.
The USPS Office of the Inspector General is responsible for investigating complaints of internal mail theft. Following WMAR-2 News’ request for comment, a spokesperson could not confirm an active investigation but said the OIG would review the details of the situation.
Now, the impacted customers say they’ll be making changes to the way they write their checks. Powell, who is very angry about the situation, said she’ll be writing out checks with black magic marker, which is harder to alter.
“So I can’t mail anything without being in fear of someone taking what’s inside my personal belongings?” said Powell. “Just because it’s going through the postal service, it’s still mine. You have no right to go in my mail and take out what’s in it, and they still have one of my checks to this day.”
Powell wants to press charges against the criminal who altered and cashed her check, but she’s reportedly waiting for her bank to produce images of the culprit committing the crime. Mclean, meanwhile, is working with the Maryland Volunteers Lawyer Service to work out a deal with her mortgage company. She’s now worried that her home could be foreclosed due to the missing payment.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has also increased its monetary reward to $100,000 for anyone who can provide information on mail theft that leads to an arrest and conviction.
How to avoid mail fraud
Unfortunately, it appears to be all too easy for criminals to get away with washing and altering checks in the mail. Normally, a good way to prevent this would be to mail your checks from inside a post office instead of using an outdoor mailbox, but that unfortunately didn’t work for Curtis. He mailed his check from inside the post office and still had it stolen.
That’s why it’s important to monitor your checking account regularly after writing checks. Or, better yet, see if you can send checks and payments directly from your bank.
Checks sent through a bank still go through the postal system but can be harder to alter because of the way they’re printed. Also, when you send a check through your bank directly, there’s an electronic record of the original payee. So, even if the check is stolen, you have more protection since you can prove that fraud has occurred.
If you can’t send checks directly from your bank, use a permanent black marker to write out your checks so they can’t be washed. Also, don’t leave blank spaces in the payee or amount lines.
It’s also important to protect the checks you might be receiving as those can also be stolen and cashed. In fact, it’s a good idea to collect your mail as soon as it’s been delivered — you can even buy a mailbox sensor that sends an alert when your mailbox has been opened. You may also want to install a security camera in front of your home with a visual on your mailbox to deter or catch thieves.
Additionally, you can sign up for Informed Delivery from the USPS, which sends you daily notifications by email of incoming mail and packages.
If you’re heading out of town for a while, you can arrange to have your mail put on hold by the post office. You also shouldn’t hesitate to notify the USPS Office of the Inspector General if you think you’ve been a victim of mail fraud.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
(Photo by Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice is suing Maryland and State Attorney General Anthony Brown, alleging the state’s “sanctuary” policies hinder the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
The lawsuit claims that Maryland’s sanctuary policies are illegal under federal law and that the state’s “refusal to cooperate with federal immigration authorities” has had negative consequences for immigration law enforcement officials.
What we know:
According to the lawsuit, the state’s refusal to cooperate has led to facilities refusing to help transfer immigrants to federal custody.
Under the direction of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, the DOJ’s Civil Division will identify state and local laws, policies and practices that violate federal laws or impede federal operations.
“When sanctuary jurisdictions enact laws to shield [undocumented immigrants] from federal law enforcement, it is not merely federal law that is violated, but the voices of everyday American voters silenced,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward.
The lawsuit cites Maryland’s Community Trust Act, a law that went into effect in May, which prevents local law enforcement from holding an individual without a warrant on behalf of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). There is an exception for those who commit felonies or sex offenses.
What they’re saying:
The Community Trust Act law sparked pushback from local law enforcement leaders across the state, with 17 of Maryland’s 24 sheriffs suing, and saying the law “undermines public safety and restricts cooperation” between local and federal officials.
“Such blatant disregard for federal laws that have been on the books for decades is not merely a political disagreement or passive abstention; it is deliberate, disruptive action that jeopardizes the public safety for all Americans,” the DOJ lawsuit reads. “The Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution prohibits a state from obstructing Congress and the Executive in this manner.”
The Source: This information is from a Department of Justice lawsuit.
GLEN BURNIE, Md. (WBFF) — An office building in Glen Burnie was evacuated on Thursday afternoon after its underground parking garage experienced a shift in one of its floors.
The Anne Arundel County Fire Department initially responded to the 7300 block of Ritchie Highway around 2:30 p.m. on July 9 after reports of a partial building collapse.
However, the department later clarified that there has been no collapse of the 10-story building.
Officials said crews are evaluating the building’s structural integrity after work was being performed in the parking garage.
All occupants were safely evacuated, and no injuries have been reported, according to Fire Captain Jenny Macallair.
The fire department is asking drivers to avoid the area while crews continue their assessment.
FOX45 News has a crew on the way to the scene, and we will provide updates as they become available.
See America’s most iconic hot dogs
Welcome to the United States of Hot Dogs! We’ve compiled a few of the best hot dogs eaten across the country.
Although Maryland is often celebrated for its seafood, one over-the-top creation has carved out its own loyal following among locals and visitors alike: The Baltimore-style hot dog.
Sausage is merely its first layer of meat. It’s wrapped in a thick slice of fried beef bologna and piled high with toppings.
It’s proof that while hot dogs are truly an All-American food, their real power lies in how they adapt to local tastes.
Hot dogs were “invented” in the U.S. after German sausages were served in buns. They’re a staple of baseball games — the all-American pastime. And they are truly a democratic food: nearly anyone can afford to enjoy them.
But even more, hot dogs are American because of their adaptability, reflecting the ingenuity and diversity that gives our country such a rich culinary tapestry.
“You can tell the story of America through hot dogs. There are probably other things you could use, other objects or icons, but I think hot dog is a really good one,” said Bruce Kraig, a Ph.D. food historian and author of “Hot Dog: A Global History’ and ‘Man Bites Dog: Hot Dog Culture in America.”
Regional hot dog toppings, from chili in Cincinnati to celery salt in Chicago to jalapeños in the Southwest, tell distinct stories of place.
Here in Baltimore, Maryland, our contribution to the United States of Hot Dogs is the Baltimore-style hot dog.
What is a Baltimore-style hot dog?
At its core, the Baltimore dog is a meat-on-meat masterpiece. It starts with a kosher all-beef sausage that is split, fried and wrapped alongside thick, charred bologna slices.
It’s traditionally topped with raw onions and yellow mustard, with a pickle spear on top or on the side. Some variations include the addition of sweet relish, ketchup or cheese.
“In this creation, grease from the bologna mixes with the grease from the hot dog, and both find their way into the bread to form an unforgettable aroma, taste and aftertaste — and 200 points on your cholesterol count,” Baltimore historian Gilbert Sandler told The Baltimore Sun in a 2019 story.
Where did the Baltimore-style hot dog come from?
Its origins are often somewhat unclear, but it’s believed to have originated during the Great Depression when, according to TasteAtlas.com, “people added bologna slices to the hot dog in order to make it a fuller, heartier meal.”
Jewish delis along Baltimore’s historic “Corned Beef Row” were looking for ways to offer working-class customers a filling, calorie-dense meal for a small chunk of change, leading to the birth of the Baltimore-style hot dog.
First becoming popular in the early 1940s at Mandell and Ballow deli, the bologna-wrapped hot dog spread throughout Baltimore, The Sun reported.
“Despite being a nutritionally questionable combo of two of the world’s least-healthful meats, the bologna dog continues to be a local favorite, enjoyed without apology,” FoodRepublic.com wrote in 2023.
Four best places to try a Baltimore-style hot dog
Attman’s Delicatessen: A Baltimore institution since 1915, Attman’s version of the Baltimore-style hot dog sits at the top of its menu. Its dog — for $7.99 — comes with your choice of mustard, relish, chopped onions and ketchup. Details: 1019 East Lombard St., Baltimore; 410-563-2666, attmansdeli.com.
Weiss Deli: Another Baltimore staple, Weiss serves speciality sandwiches and, of course, the Baltimore-style hot dog. You can customize the $7.49 dog with up to eight toppings, but its most popular version comes with just deli mustard and raw onions on top of the bologna-wrapped sausage. Details: 1127 East Lombard St., Baltimore; 410-276-7910, baltimoreweissdeli.com
The Dog House Carryout: A legendary landmark in Baltimore, The Dog House Carryout has been slinging its classic comfort food for more than 75 years. You can get a quarter-pound all-beef hot dog for $6.95, with bologna added for an extra $1.25. The dog comes with your choice of mustard, relish, onions and ketchup. Details: 617 Fallsway, Baltimore; 410-685-7269, thedoghousebaltimore.com
Killa Dogz: Killa Dogz, one of the more modern hot dog spots in the city, offers a wide variety of options, including what it calls the “Bmore” dog. At $7, its version is deep fried, wrapped in bologna and “served on a squishy bun with mustard.” Chili and cheese are among the top ways to customize its dog. Details: 6106 Belair Rd, Baltimore; 443-438-7822. killadogz.com.
Jennifer Borresen contributed the interactive graphic to this story. She is a graphic journalist at USA TODAY, specializing in explanatory graphics and illustrations in various fields, including politics, science, weather and entertainment.
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