‘Tis the season when more packages are stolen off porches.

To protect against mail theft over the holidays, postal inspectors and law enforcement officials are reminding the public to check their mail regularly and report any suspicious activity.

Officials say the threat increases this week after Cyber Monday, the Monday after Thanksgiving when retailers encourage holiday shopping online. It’s considered one of the biggest online shopping days of the year.

Adam Sale, a Portland-based postal inspector for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, said it is important to not let mail accumulate outside. People concerned about the security of their mail can install a lockable mailbox or open a post office box, Sale said.

“The main thing is for people to collect their mail as soon as it arrives,” Sale said. “If they have their mail delivered to their home, have it delivered to a secured location. Let carriers know where to have it delivered or have it held at the post office.”

The most reliable way to protect your mail is to open a P.O. Box, Sale said.

“My recommendation always is if you don’t have a secure location, get a P.O. Box,” he said. “That is the best way to avoid theft.”

The U.S. Postal Service does not keep track of local mail theft cases or thefts during the holiday season, but it compiles overall national data in its annual reports.

The latest report, in 2018, shows postal inspectors’ efforts resulted in 5,969 arrests and 4,648 convictions related to the investigation of postal crimes. Of those arrests, 2,487 were criminals who took mail out of mailboxes, according to the postal service data.

Local law enforcement has seen a rise in mail theft cases over the past few years. In 2016, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office handled 93 cases, and so far this year there have been 103 cases, according to sheriff’s office data. The data shows most cases occur in November and December.

A recent mail theft case in La Pine highlighted the need for people to be diligent during the holidays.

On Nov. 22, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of a suspicious man in the area of Elderberry Lane and Pine Forest Drive in La Pine.

“The subject was described as acting suspicious at mailboxes in the area, and was possibly stealing mail,” said sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. William Bailey.

Deputies found David Stephen Nessly, 20, of La Pine, in the area. Nessly reportedly had mail from several mailboxes in the neighborhood.

Nessly was arrested on suspicion of 20 counts of mail theft. He allegedly stole mail from 19 people, according to an indictment filed Nov. 27.

If you believe your mail was stolen, you should immediately report it to local law enforcement and to the postal service. Reports can be made to the postal service online at www.uspis.gov or by calling 877-876-2455.

All reports help postal inspectors determine if the crime is part of a larger mail theft problem in a neighborhood, Sale said. The information helps inspectors find and arrest the thieves, he said.

“We encourage our customers to collect their mail everyday,” Sale said. “If they do believe they are a victim, call local law enforcement and also call us and make a report.”