| Did you know that almost one million Americans fall | | | | people don't realize is just how susceptible most of |
| prey to identity theft every year? Not only can | | | | them are. In many cases, identity thieves have easy |
| identity theft lead to a variety of financial | | | | access to all of the information they need, right from |
| complications, but it is also an expensive and | | | | a person's mailbox.In many areas of the country, |
| time-consuming process to resolve. Nevertheless, as | | | | such problems have lead to the building of brick and |
| individuals try to improve security measures for | | | | masonry mailboxes. Unfortunately, many citizens are |
| electronic data, most forget to protect the source of | | | | unaware of the rules governing such constructions. |
| information that is most easily accessible: their mail. In | | | | For example, it is often required that masonry |
| today's world, a mailbox with locking door is only the | | | | mailboxes be at least 10 feet from the roadway or |
| first preventive step one can take.Identity theft is | | | | road right of way. A distance shorter than this can |
| estimated to be a billion dollar "industry" in the United | | | | be considered a serious traffic hazard. Those who |
| States. Every year, Americans across the country | | | | violate such laws can find themselves faced with |
| are faced with the uncomfortable reality that | | | | fines and the cost of removing their masonry |
| someone other than themselves is using their | | | | mailboxes. |
| personal information. Unfortunately, what most | | | | |