<p>ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Postal Service has reported an increase of mail theft across Minnesota, Western Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota. According to the Postal Service, envelopes are being stolen from mailboxes and in some cases checks are altered using a solution that fades the handwritten ink on the face of the check but does not affect the printed information, allowing a forger to write a new name on the payee line but trace the original signature at the bottom. Since last year the number of reported mail thefts in seven cities has nearly doubled over a three-month period with suburban-area mailboxes hardest hit.</p>