A new federal task force will crackdown on postal theft. The announcement for the new force came Thursday after several people in South Carolina pleaded guilty to possessing stolen mail.

There will be eight officers, all authorized to investigate financial crimes and identity theft from postal violations like those in Melissa Barrs Aiken County neighborhood.

She now pays more attention to what may be missing from her mailbox.

“Some of our neighbors actually had mail theft going on,” Barrs said.

Barrs' neighborhood was targeted by a woman stealing checks from mailboxes, washing and trying to cash them.

“I couldn't believe it. Nobody would go through somebody’s mailbox. I was like well they're doing it in our neighborhood,” Barrs said.

Captain Wendell Hall of Aiken Public Safety says mail theft is not a widespread issue, but for those it affects it can cause some serious problems.

“They can take that information and convert it to an identity theft and that's usually where the damage comes,” Hall said.

That's why Barrs is keeping an eye on her bills.

“I watch my credit card statements very carefully,” Barrs said.

Tim Towner lives across the street from Barrs. He says paying bills electronically gives him piece of mind.

“Most folks now I think are paying their bills via computer we're not putting checks and mailing checks through the normal mail chain,” Towner said.

Officers have some tips.you can use to help prevent mail theft.