CHECK-CASHING RING SOUGHT IN WYTHE

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 7, 1993                   TAG: 9304070080
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WYTHEVILLE                                LENGTH: Short
CHECK-CASHING RING SOUGHT IN WYTHE
Wythe County authorities are after a check-cashing ring that steals various kinds of government checks from mailboxes.
"That's not only the county, it's been right prevalent throughout Southwest Virginia," said Sheriff Wayne Pike.
He said it appears to be a gang that is stealing government or dividend checks at certain times during the month from mailboxes, and cashing them in large grocery or chain stores using fake identification cards.
Pike said people who get government checks should try to be home when they are delivered, "or talk to Social Security or postal officials and see if we can't do something on their side to help out and prevent the thefts."
He said retail merchants and people cashing checks in stores also need to be aware of the problem.
Pike said the use of direct deposit by people receiving checks would avoid the theft problem.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB