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Last updated on Friday, August 31, 2012
(UNDATED) - Criminals are now using the mailbox as an easy way to get cash.
Johnson County Sheriff Doug Cox reports three separate instances of checks being taken out of outgoing mail boxes and being cashed are under investigation.
The thieves are driving around looking for the flag in the raised position, take the envelopes out of the mailboxes and then use a technique called check washing.
Check washing erases details from checks to allow them to be rewritten so criminals can then withdraw funds from bank accounts.
Police say the actual process of washing a check is relatively simple and can be accomplished with basic solvents.
To combat check washing, police recommends using gel pens on checks with the ink soaking in better than ball-point pens.
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