Police have arrested and charged three people from Hamilton with mail theft in connection with five separate incidents in Cambridge.

Police allege that a 22-year-old man and two 18-year-olds, one male and one female, have been stealing mail from Canada Post mail boxes in Cambridge since the beginning of January.

Waterloo Regional Police Sgt. John Van Breda says the stolen mail contained over $3,400 worth of cheques from family holiday cards and from businesses.

"They're looking for businesses sending cheques to pay their bills in the mail that they can cash quickly for money," he says. "They're also looking for identities in the mail that they can copy for fraudulent purposes."

Police say Zehrs Loss Prevention Security Team staff played a key role in the arrests. The suspects had apparently been spotted stealing mail from the mail box in front of the store. It was the third time that box had been targeted.

Canada Post is cautioning people mailing out cheques and cash to go to the post office.

Alex Schulz, who works at Canada Post's Security and Investigation unit, has a few more suggestions, "Don't induct your mail over the course of a weekend or in the evening hours where it might sit overnight because that's typically when bandits will attack."

Cambridge resident Beverley Flannigan has her own way of doing things. "If I send cheques in the mail for gifts, I send them through priority post and I go pay my bills at the bank or in person at the post office."

Police believe an organized group was involved in the mail thefts and at least five mail boxes have been hit. 

The three suspects are being held for a bail hearing and anyone with information is asked to contact police at 519-650-8500 ext. 2298 or call Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-8477.