In order to prevent the possibility of mail tampering over winter break, the Charleston Post Office, located at 320 Sixth St., is offering to hold off-campus students’ mail over the break.

Since many off-campus residences will be left unattended during winter break, the risk of losing important mail increases.

Charleston postmaster Donna Fox said three weeks worth of mail will be loaded in students’ mailboxes over winter break, causing an overflowing mailbox and increasing the chance of mail tampering.

“Identity and mail theft has been occurring a lot in America recently,” Fox said. “Tampering with someone’s mail is one of the easiest options that a person has in stealing another’s identity.”

By filling out a vacation hold card, off-campus students will give the Charleston Post Office permission to hold all mail sent to students until they return from winter break.

The card asks for the student’s name, address and date.

When the students return from break, they can pick up their mail from either the post office or the carrier annex on Windsor Road.

The holding service is automatically done for students living in the dorms. Fox said the option is free of charge and tamper free.

For more information about the vacation holding card, contact Diana Fox at 345-2900.