For broadcast on CBS Radio Network stations 
February 19-20, 2000:


Stamp Security


The Stamp Collecting Report, I'm Lloyd de Vries.


Some crooks specialize in computers, others in jewelry...and, 
yes, there are thieves who specialize in stamp collections. 
Last summer, authorities arrested two brothers who police 
say had been stealing stamp and coin collections for 25 years 
without getting caught. They knew stamps, too, and took only 
the best stuff in the collections.


The brothers allegedly used an old stamp society directory 
that listed members' home addresses -- the book is no longer 
published, just because of the series of thefts. They'd call 
collectors, over and over again, until they found a period 
in which the house was deserted.


The best thing you can do to protect yourself is -- don't 
give out your street address. Get a post office box, or have 
your philatelic mail sent to where you work. Tell your 
telephone company to stop listing your street in its 
directories. And if you do continue to use your physical 
address, don't ever, ever post it on the Internet in a public 
place.


Just use common sense.


And that's stamp collecting this week. 

I'm Lloyd de Vries, CBS News.


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