Checks Being Stolen From Mailboxes

DUNCAN, Okla. (AP) -- A woman has been stealing checks from mailboxes in Stephens County and cashing them at retail stores in the region, authorities said.<br/><br/>The woman has taken more than $5,000

Friday, May 4th 2007, 2:30 pm

By: News On 6

DUNCAN, Okla. (AP) -- A woman has been stealing checks from mailboxes in Stephens County and cashing them at retail stores in the region, authorities said.

The woman has taken more than $5,000 so far by cashing the checks, usually at Wal-Mart stores, in Duncan, Lawton and Chickasha in exchange for merchandise, gift cards and cash, said Stephens County Sheriff's Lt. Rodney Richards.

Richards said the woman takes checks intended to pay bills, then alters them, although he said it was not clear just how she was making the alterations.

He said the woman changed one check for a bill to Dish Networks for $90 to $900 and cashed it at a Wal-Mart.

Investigators recently were able to see the woman on a surveillance video and said she is white, and in her late 20s, between 5â€™2 and 5â€™4 and 155 to 165 pounds.

She may be driving a small, green, four-door Nissan with tinted windows, Richards said.