All articles tagged with #mail theft
Mail theft attacks in the US are increasing, with 52,000 incidents in 2024, up from 2,000 in 2010, as thieves become more brazen and law enforcement efforts struggle with limited resources, despite significant investments by postal authorities.
A Long Island woman lost $20,000 in a check washing scheme after her checks were stolen from a mailbox and altered by thieves, highlighting a growing low-tech crime trend on Long Island. Police and postal inspectors advise paying electronically or in person to prevent mail theft.
A U.S. Postal Service Letter Carrier was maced and robbed of her mail keys in Summerlin, marking the third attack in the area since September last year. Residents fear for the safety of their personal information and are advised to check their mail daily to prevent theft. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is offering a $150,000 reward for information leading to the suspect's conviction.
Despite the launch of Project Safe Delivery and hundreds of arrests, the number of postal carrier robberies in 2023 rose by nearly 30%, with injuries doubling. Legislation is being introduced in Congress to address the issue, including accelerating the replacement of mailbox keys and boosting prosecutions. While there has been a recent dip in robberies and an increase in arrests, postal carriers continue to be targeted, prompting calls for more action to protect them.
Thieves in Fullerton were caught on video nearly running over a Postal Service worker as they fled in a car with stolen mail from a post office. Police quickly located and arrested three suspects, recovering a U.S. Postal Service crate with "hundreds of pieces of mail" from their vehicle. The suspects face charges of mail theft, assault, and assault with a deadly weapon, and authorities are investigating potential connections to other crimes in the area.
Porch pirate thefts are increasing during the holiday season in South Burlington and surrounding areas, with multiple reports of stolen packages. Residents are advised to track packages online, be present for delivery, get a post office box, or invest in a locking mailbox to protect their mail. South Burlington Police are scanning Ring camera footage and have leads but have not made any arrests yet.
The decline in check usage has not deterred fraudsters, who have increasingly turned to check fraud, costing financial institutions billions. Criminals leverage technology and social media to commit fraud on a grand scale, using stolen checks purchased online and altering them with basic tools like nail polish remover. The surge in mail theft during the pandemic has further fueled check fraud. Banks and credit unions are expected to file a record number of suspicious activity reports tied to check fraud this year. However, anti-fraud measures by banks can sometimes misfire, freezing or shutting down innocent customers' accounts. The complex nature of check fraud investigations and the lack of communication between banks make it difficult to determine liability and resolve cases promptly, leaving victims frustrated. Despite the risks, check usage remains popular among consumers for certain transactions.
A porch pirate was caught on camera stealing three packages from a home in Aiea, Hawaii. The victim filed a police report and submitted the footage to the U.S. Postal Service, who emphasized the importance of such evidence for investigations. To prevent theft, the Postal Service suggests insuring high-value gifts, requiring a signature upon delivery, and picking up parcels directly from the Post Office. Mail theft carries fines of up to $250,000 and up to 5 years in prison.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has announced a crackdown on postal crime, resulting in over 600 arrests since May. The increase in mail theft and carrier robberies has prompted law enforcement officials to take action, with criminals targeting carriers' universal keys and stealing mail. The USPS is replacing tens of thousands of these keys with electronic locks to prevent theft. The Postal Service has also deployed high-security blue boxes and implemented changes to reduce fraudulent change-of-address transactions and counterfeit postage. The penalties for interfering with the mail are severe, with theft punishable by up to five years in prison and assaulting a mail carrier carrying a potential 10-year sentence.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has announced over 600 arrests since May as part of a crackdown on mail theft and carrier robberies. Criminals have been targeting carriers' "arrow keys" to gain access to mailboxes, with carriers being accosted at gunpoint. The USPS is replacing tens of thousands of universal keys with electronic locks to reduce robberies, and has deployed high-security blue boxes in high-risk locations. The Postal Service has also implemented changes to reduce fraudulent change-of-address transactions and counterfeit postage. The penalty for interfering with the mail can be up to five years in prison for theft, up to 10 years for possession or disposal of postal property, and up to 10 years for assaulting a mail carrier.
The USPS inspector general has criticized the agency's incomplete and insufficient plans to address the increasing incidents of mail theft across the country. The USPS's initiative, Project Safe Delivery, lacks milestones and timelines, leading to few concrete results. Surges of personnel in high-risk areas resulted in only three arrests and 277 recovered mail pieces. USPS is replacing "arrow" keys with electronic alternatives and deploying high-security mailboxes, but these efforts are limited due to funding constraints. The agency has not finalized an overall plan to address mail theft and is urged to develop a comprehensive strategy with costs, timelines, and metrics. The Postal Inspection Service is also called upon to finalize its mail theft strategic plan.
A former USPS worker in Washington, D.C., has been charged with mail theft and bank fraud for allegedly stealing nearly $1.7 million in checks from the mail over an 18-month period. The accused worker, Hachikosela Muchimba, deposited the checks into his own bank account by removing the payee's name and replacing it with his own. Many of the checks were U.S. Treasury checks, and Muchimba was caught on bank surveillance cameras withdrawing the money from ATMs. If convicted, he could face up to 30 years in prison for bank fraud and 5 years for mail fraud.
A former U.S. Postal Service worker, Hachikosela Muchimba, has been arrested and charged with mail theft and bank fraud after allegedly stealing checks worth nearly $1.7 million. Muchimba, who worked at a post office in Washington, D.C., from 2020 to 2023, is accused of stealing U.S. Treasury checks from mailboxes and altering them to deposit into his own bank accounts. He recruited another postal worker to help him steal checks and paid her $1,000 for each stolen check. After rejecting a plea offer, Muchimba attempted to flee the country but was arrested at Dulles International Airport. If convicted, he could face up to 30 years in prison for bank fraud and five years for mail theft.
A surge in mail theft using arrow keys is causing concern for letter carriers in Pittsburgh. Thieves are using these keys, available on the dark web for thousands of dollars, to open collection boxes in specific zip codes. The Postal Service plans to replace arrow keys with electronic locks and install high-security blue collection boxes in high-risk areas. Consumers are advised to take mail inside a post office whenever possible, and legislation has been proposed to expand the authority of postal inspectors to keep letter carriers safe.
The U.S. Postal Service is addressing the increase in robberies of mail carriers and mail theft, which have contributed to a rise in check fraud. While the Postal Service has not officially warned customers about mailing personal checks, experts suggest using caution and considering online payment methods for increased security. Measures being taken include deploying more secure collection boxes and replacing older locks with electronic locks. Some in Congress are pushing for more aggressive action to combat mail theft. Thieves employ various methods, such as glue traps and mailbox fishing, to steal mail and attempt check fraud. The decline in check usage has not deterred criminals, who have increasingly targeted the mail since the COVID-19 pandemic. The Postal Service advises retrieving mail daily, avoiding nighttime collection box use, signing up for Informed Delivery, and reporting suspicious activity to help prevent mail theft.