Cpl Derek I. Baringer posted today (3/27/08) that he has "received boxes from people that say they have DVDs in them but they dont."  Uh-oh!!!

Just a reminder to us junkies -- from the What to Send Page:  http://www.anysoldier.com/WhatToSend.cfm -- "We strongly suggest that if you send any CDs or DVDs, use a permanent magic marker and simply put "AnySoldier.com" on both the cover and CD/DVD. It won't take long before these won't be a target anymore... -Marty

And -- from the How to Send Page:   http://www.anysoldier.com/HowToSend.cfm  -- "The APO and/or USPS has a theft problem. The scam is someone removing expensive items from packages and resealing the package like nothing happened. Soldiers are actually getting empty boxes! If your package contains an expensive item, insure it! Talk to your postal clerk on the best way to hide the contents of an expensive item to avoid notice and being stolen. Packages that do not call attention to themselves (see notes on Customs form next), and are wrapped very well, are less likely to be broken into. I also suggest that you send a letter seperate from the package addressed TO the Soldier (leave off the "ATTN" line) making them aware of the package. It is interesting that there have been no known thefts of insured items."

--Marilyn

Just FYI, I ensured every box I sent for $50.  Was only about $1.55 and is just one more box on the customs form to mark.  No big deal, but they have to track the stuff then, which is why it doesn't go missing.

I also insure anything I send that I want to make sure gets there or at least if it DOESN'T get there - they have a way of tracking what happened to it. I sent my fiancee some pictures, which I um, only wanted to make sure got to him along with some DVD's that my co-worker had bought him and on the customs form I put "family pictures on CD." I know it may not have been the ENTIRE truth, I didn't want anyone opening up his package just because it read DVD's. Anyway, it may not be ethical to some, but I have to secure that he gets the things I send him which are easily untraceable. The first package of things I sent him were of games and things he needed for his computer and some of his gear. I made sure to take a label maker and I put labels of his name allllll over everything. It was a hassle for him to take them off, but it was in his best interest. Also - I DO make sure that in the letter I write him I list the items which should be in the package. He can't do anything about it if they are missing, other than file a complaint I suppose, but this assures that he knows what was in it when it was sent and at least gives him some "evidence" to support his claim. 

I place address labels on all seams of the boxes sent and then tape over these labels to prevent the boxes from being discreetly opened and resealed. A great use for all those extra address labels.

And sadly, as I found out yesterday, the theivery works both ways!  I received a box from a friend in Afghanistan and two of the items were missing! 

It wasn't obvious anything was missing at first, although I did wonder why there was so much bubble wrap in a box that contained only scarves.  It was in reading the letter that I found out there should have been a stone cross and a rock for my husband in there!  The thief was very neat and contientious--JERK!!!

It wasn't so much the "stuff"--I mean, it was rocks after all, and we know that Afghanistan is full of those, it's just the principle!  To think that one of our heroes went out of his way to do this and someone, somewhere had no respect for it.

 Phyllis, That really stinks. My son wants to send some things home from Iraq. I wonder if they can get insurance like we can in the states. I would hate to have anything stolen.I will write and tell him of your postal thief and see if he wants to chance sending anything. Diane

Hey everyone~

The theft issue is an old one.  A good policy is to just write on the customs form "used cd", "blank cd",  "family picture cd", or like Marty suggested, "AnySoldier.com cd".  Doing so makes them less desirable to thiefs (they want music/DVDs- so don't write that on the customs form).  You can also tape inside of your box a list of all the items included in your care package (also a theft deterrent and if something is missing on arrival the recipient will know what).

 
Also- for those of you purchasing Insurance- I've heard many supporters (and P.O. clerks) who don't recommend it.  For one, it attracts more attention (the thief's) because that means you obviously have high-value items in your box.  Secondly, I'm not sure if this is still true, but I was told by a P.O. clerk a couple years ago that Insurance isn't even valid for packages going to war zones.  The reason for that is because USPS hands over the mail to the MPS (Military Postal Service)*.  The MPS is a different organization and they don't honor USPS Insurance- at least not like the USPS does.  Especially not in a war zone, where packages are at a high risk of being damaged/destroyed. I imagine that if an insured package was damages/destroyed while in MPS care, it would be a very difficult process to get your money back.  Just thought I'd share that info in case you want to save a couple dollars...

*Directly from the USPS website:

"The Postal Service places APO/FPO mail on international commercial passenger service and international cargo service aircraft from various cities. When the plane lands overseas, the mail is tendered to the Military. The mail is then handled by Military Postal Service representative and transported to the military post office for distribution to the service member's unit for delivery to the addressee."

Cali, at least for me, the recouping the loss is not the point.  Because it is insured they have to keep better track of it.  There is a bar code on the innsurance label, and they have to scan it as it comes through.  It makes it less risk to thieves, because when it needs to be investigated, they can tell exactly where it dropped off the line.  Thieves don't want that, they want to be annymous.  If you are sending stuff and there are 10 stops, then it is hard to see where it might have gone missing.  But if it drops out of sight at stop 4, over and over again, they know they have problems.

Just my understanding.  I could be wrong.  But that is why I ensure it for such a small amount.

Lisa

That would make sense, except that the thieves aren't stealing the whole box... so it doesn't just "drop off the line" never to be seen again.  They open it up (which the mail handlers are permitted to do), take what they want, seal it back up, and sent it on it's way.

Like someone mentioned previously, and I've heard similar stories, some soldiers will receive really expensive items, such as dvd players, video games, etc. only to open their box and find that everything was stolen from it; empty box sent on to them. Insurance isn't going to help catch that thief. 

 
Not trying to debate or anything... just wanted to put the info out there.  We all have different ways of doing things and if you feel better insuring it, no biggie!  

Everyone,

The thievery - whether coming or going - is just rotten crooks - no matter who they are.  I certainly hope they can be caught and receive their appropriate justice!

Concerning the packages being sent by us - what if we wrote on the bottom of the inside of the box any valuable items that we are packing and maybe place a piece of paper over it so that it isn't so obvious to a crook that is in a hurry to remove valuables but would be easy to see when someone was emptying the box?

Gran