A Massachusetts man is accused of stealing a company check from outgoing mail, altering it and trying to cash it at a bank before the business confirmed that the check was fraudulent.
Donald Quinn, 48, of Arlington, Massachusetts, was arrested after being extradited to New Hampshire. He is charged with Class A felony theft by unauthorized taking.
The case began with a check that Reeds Ferry Sheds in Hudson, New Hampshire, had left in its business mailbox overnight with other outgoing mail. Police say someone took the check and fraudulently altered it.
According to YourArlington, investigators eventually identified Quinn after a bank in Haverhill, Massachusetts, questioned the check and surveillance footage provided police with a person to follow.
The Bank Called the Business About the Check
Hudson police responded to Reeds Ferry Sheds at 3 Tracy Lane on April 16 after the business reported a stolen check. Investigators determined that the company check had been placed in the business mailbox overnight along with other outgoing mail before it disappeared.
Police say the check was later presented at a bank in Haverhill, Massachusetts. The bank contacted Reeds Ferry Sheds after a man, later identified by investigators as Quinn, attempted to cash it. The company told the bank that the check was fraudulent.
Surveillance Images Gave Police a Suspect
Hudson investigators worked with the Haverhill Police Department after the attempted transaction. Police obtained surveillance images from the bank showing the person who presented the check.
Investigators also obtained images of the allegedly altered check and the identification used during the transaction. Authorities say the person captured in the bank footage was Quinn. Based on that evidence, Hudson police obtained an arrest warrant.
He Was Extradited From Massachusetts
Quinn was arrested in Massachusetts and extradited to New Hampshire on August 7. After arriving in New Hampshire, he was processed by the Hudson Police Department on a charge of Class A felony theft by unauthorized taking.
Under New Hampshire law, theft can be classified as a Class A felony when the value of the property or services exceeds $1,500, although state law provides other circumstances that can also affect how a theft offense is classified.
Quinn was released on personal recognizance bail and is scheduled to be arraigned September 22 at 1 p.m. in the Ninth Circuit Court, Nashua District Division. He has been charged but not convicted. The accusation against him remains an allegation, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Leaving Checks in a Mailbox Overnight Creates an Opportunity for Theft
The Postal Inspection Service recommends placing outgoing mail in a USPS collection box before its final pickup of the day or taking it directly to a post office. It also advises against leaving mail sitting in a mailbox overnight.
Businesses mailing checks should monitor their bank accounts closely and confirm that checks clear with the correct payee and amount. Companies can also ask their banks about fraud-control services such as Positive Pay, which compares checks presented for payment with information supplied by the business and can flag unexpected items for review.
If an outgoing check disappears, the business should contact its bank immediately to determine whether a stop-payment request can still be placed and notify the intended recipient not to accept or rely on the missing check.
Suspected mail theft can also be reported to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service online or by calling 1-877-876-2455. Hudson police are asking anyone with information about this incident or similar thefts to contact the department at 603-886-6011.