The downtown Kenai post office has been festooned with signs for a week alerting customers to the dangers of identity theft.
The sign states that mail in trash and recycling containers had been emptied and sorted, with an unknown amount of discarded mail removed from the building — which is a federal crime.
Postal authorities warn that a great deal of personal information can be gleaned from credit card offers, bills, shipping documents, and sometimes, simply address labels, and that makes it a potential treasure trove for identity thieves.
As the outer lobby is open 24/7, the postmaster urges people to be very cautious in what is discarded there.