Expecting a Paper Stimulus Check? Beware of Mail Theft

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the law enforcement arm of the U.S. Postal Service, opened 1,278 cases of mail theft, reported 2,078 arrests and notched 2,067 convictions for the 12-month period that ended Sept. 30, 2019.

The statistics are in the latest annual report from the USPIS, which spotlights large-scale mail theft cases in Michigan, Missouri and Florida. In the greater Detroit area, for example, one outlaw was sentenced to six years in prison last July after agents in the case recovered 51 checks valued at more than $1.5 million.

In a statement to AARP, USPIS officials said that as the economic impact payment checks go out, “We want the American public to know that postal inspectors are out on the streets with our law enforcement partners, making sure our mail carriers and your mail are safe."

Guarding the mail

Almost 150 billion pieces of mail a year are delivered to 157 million addresses, the USPIS annual report says, and the vast majority of it is delivered safely. Still, thieves persist in efforts to steal from people's mailboxes and blue postal-collection boxes. USPIS employs an analytics program that analyzes mail-theft data, including consumer complaints and reports of potential mail losses from major mailers.

Donna Harris, with the USPIS New York Division, hosts a podcast for the agency.

Courtesy of U.S. Postal Inspection Service

After Chen was charged in Brooklyn, Philip Bartlett, the inspector in charge of the USPIS New York Division, noted that the COVID-19 crisis has “placed tremendous stress on underserved communities” and the stimulus payments are often the lifelines “people need to stay afloat during this crisis.”

"When Mr. Chen stole these checks, he robbed recipients of these much-needed funds,” he added.

At the New York Division, USPIS spokeswoman Donna Harris said she has not seen a recent uptick in mail-theft cases in the region but is aware that bad actors are girding to “make money off this crisis.” Harris hosts a podcast, Behind the Badge: Ripped From the Case Files of Postal Inspectors, that highlights the enforcement work of the USPIS.

Golden State sees rise in mail theft

At the USPIS San Francisco Division, which includes San Jose, where the latest charges were filed, Postal Inspector Jeff Fitch said that across California, there has been an increase in mail theft “for at least the last three years."

News reports and USPIS tweets showed these recent cases across the U.S.:

• In Washington, D.C.'s tony Kalorama neighborhood, a post office was burglarized before 5 a.m. on March 10.
• In suburban North Chicago, Illinois, two armed men robbed a letter carrier on April 6.
• In Richmond, Virginia, a post office was robbed on May 1.

The USPIS offers rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of criminals in such cases.

See something, say something

If you think you are a victim of mail theft, officials ask you to report it immediately online at USPIS.gov/report or by calling 877-876-2455.

With many people now at home, officials have asked people to be on the lookout for suspicious conduct. If you see something that looks strange or witness someone stealing mail, call the police.

Fitch and Harris urged people with photos or video of suspicious activity involving the mail to alert the USPIS. Get more information, such as license plate numbers, if you can.

Victims of mail theft should monitor financial accounts and alert the USPIS — a second time — if suspicious charges for goods or services show up, since that information helps investigators chase crooks and bring them to justice.

Jed Share / Kaoru Share / getty images

10 Tips to Prevent Mail Theft

1. Don’t let incoming or outgoing mail sit in your mailbox. You can significantly reduce the chance of being victimized by removing the mail from your mailbox every day.

2. Don’t leave delivered packages on the front porch for any length of time.

3. The U.S. Postal Service has a tool called Informed Delivery, which gives customers advance notice of incoming first-class mail.

4. If you don’t receive a check or other valuable mail that you’re expecting, contact the issuing agency.

5. Going out of town? Hold your mail at the local post office. Take advantage of the Hold Mail  service by submitting a written authorization on PS Form 8076 or by visiting USPS.com. Letters and packages will be held at the Post Office until your return.

6. Ship with the Hold for Pickup option. When shipping packages, customers can choose Hold for Pickup and the recipients can collect the packages at their local post office.

7. Customers receiving packages can redirect them to their local post office by selecting Hold for Pickup with USPS Package Intercept on USPS.com.

8. Customize the delivery. If a package doesn’t fit in the mailbox and the customer won’t be home to receive it, the customer can provide delivery instructions online and authorize the carrier to leave it in a specified location. Visit USPS.com, enter the tracking number and select Delivery Instructions.

9. Secure the shipment by using USPS Special Services. The Signature Confirmation option helps ensure the package will end up in the right hands by requiring a signature at delivery. For the most valuable packages, customers can opt for registered mail service. A registered mail piece receives special handling from the time it is mailed until delivery, with the chain of custody documented.

10. Monitor your front door. If you have a home security camera system, make sure that it captures activity at your front door and mailbox. If you catch mail thieves in the act, save the video and alert the USPIS. Video surveillance goes a long way in identifying bad guys.