Centereach theft of tax checks from mail was not a burglary, investigator says

Federal postal investigators are probing a mail theft incident tied to checks mailed from the Centereach post office to the Brookhaven Town tax receiver's office, authorities said Saturday, while disputing earlier claims that the facility had been broken into.

Brookhaven Town Receiver of Taxes Louis Marcoccia, relaying a story from an affected taxpayer, said earlier this week that a suspected break-in at the Centereach post office may have led to the theft of as many as two dozen property tax checks. But U.S. Postal Inspection Service officials said Saturday there was "no burglary or break-in" at the Centereach facility.

"From what we've gathered, the incident at Centereach is not an inside job," Postal Inspector Daniela Lella told Newsday. She said the incident involved a person depositing mail into a collection box, but declined to give more specific information because of the ongoing investigation.

Postal officials urged anyone who believes their mail has been stolen to contact local police immediately and then report the incident to the Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455. 

Lella said all reports of mail theft across Long Island are investigated, and reporting incidents helps authorities identify patterns if they emerge.

Mail theft is a federal crime, punishable by up to 5 years in prison, according to the Postal Inspection Service.

Marcoccia said his office began hearing from concerned residents after sending postcards notifying some taxpayers their payments had not been received by the Monday deadline.

In at least one case, a resident reported that her bank showed the check had been cashed, though not by the town, Marcoccia told Newsday — raising suspicions of "check washing," in which thieves alter stolen checks and deposit them fraudulently.

Marcoccia has estimated that between 20 and 30 taxpayers may have been affected, with individual checks worth several thousand dollars. Town officials have said impacted residents will not be charged late fees.