Okay folks 2022 is over and 2023 has been here for a few days now. In my last article leading into the new year, we talked about some of the events that we hoped to improve on this year. MPD reports the final homicide number for the year was 214, a new record for three years in a row. We all know the end of the year/beginning of the year, situation can be a little rowdy with celebrations going on. People of course are drinking, partying and glad to see a new year coming in. Assistant Chief Johnson of MPD did an interview on the 31st advising people to do responsible celebrating because extra officers would be out on the street. Lastly, he said please not to shoot in the sky because bullets must come down and it is extremely dangerous.
So, of course, what happened? Channel 12 had a doorbell cam, in one neighborhood of numerous shots being fired into the air for several seconds. A look at calls in the MPD dispatch center showed numerous calls of shots being fired all over the city. Some citizens made the calls, but many came in over the shot spotter poles located throughout the city that automatically sent calls to the center. Some people may not know but these poles located throughout the city will notify the police when people are firing shots in certain areas.
A new and disturbing crime reared its ugly head a few days ago. Wauwatosa PD chased a car from the area of 76th and North that was suspicious. The car went into Milwaukee and finally crashed on the northside. The two suspects ran but were caught. The car was full of stolen mail. Some of the mail had been taken earlier from a mailbox right by Wauwatosa City Hall. Police are investigating how they got inside the blue mailbox. But so-called arrow keys can open any blue mailbox in a certain zip code. The keys also can open many mailboxes inside numerous apartment buildings. It is a growing problem nationwide. In Cincinnati, there was a story of a mail carrier being robbed and the suspects took his keys to open numerous mailboxes on the street and in apartment buildings. The United States Postal Inspector said the thieves are targeting personal checks.
Criminals can steal bank account information or even wash the ink off. They can change the payee and amount on the check. The stolen checks are also sold in bulk on the dark web. “The main tip regarding the collection boxes is not to deposit mail inside the collection boxes after the last posted collection time,” US Postal Inspector Paul Ecker said. Mail theft is a federal crime, punishable by prison up to five years for even a single piece of stolen mail. So, remember being careful, be alert, and watchful when it comes to these issues. Talk with friends and neighbors letting them know if they are not aware. Lastly watch out for your mail carrier to make sure they are safe.