Mail Theft and Crime: Congressional Hearing Highlights Pervasiveness of Mail Crimes

Strategic Insights -

The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability has issued a press release highlighting the pervasiveness of mail crimes, particularly theft, and the need for Congressional support to address these issues. The hearing, titled "An Update on Mail Theft and Crime," brought together experts from the United States Postal Service (USPS), law enforcement agencies, and postal worker organizations to examine the scope of the problem and potential solutions. Key findings and statistics emerged from the hearing, underscoring the need for Congressional action to support the USPS and protect mail carriers.

Key Takeaways:

  • Delivery delays, stolen and fraudulent mail, and safety challenges in major cities all reduce USPS's ability to effectively make important daily deliveries to Americans across the country.
  • Since 2022, five letter carriers have been murdered while doing their jobs, and thousands of other postal employees have been violently attacked nearly every single day.
  • In 2010, there were just over 2,200 high volume mail theft attacks, but by 2023, that number skyrocketed to over 49,000—a 2,000 percent explosion.
  • The United States Postal Inspection Service has denied a crisis, suppressed internal data, and removed its own uniformed police from the streets, leading to a measurable collapse in institutional responsibility.
  • New, developing technology, procedures, and partnerships will make mail theft more difficult, which will make future deliveries safer and more efficient.
  • The USPS has installed over 23,000 high security blue collection boxes nationwide, with an additional 16,000 blue collection and relay boxes to be installed shortly.
  • A powerful data tool developed in collaboration with financial services industry and the US Department of Treasury has identified around $50 million in stolen financial instruments, leading to 75 investigations and obtaining more than 35 indictments.

Statistics:

  • 49,000: The number of high-volume mail theft attacks in 2023, a 2,000 percent increase from 2010.
  • $50 million: The amount of stolen financial instruments identified by a powerful data tool developed by the USPS, financial services industry, and the US Department of Treasury.
  • 75: The number of investigations opened as a result of the data tool's findings.
  • 35: The number of indictments obtained in connection with the investigations.
  • 23,000: The number of high-security blue collection boxes installed by the USPS nationwide.
  • 16,000: The number of additional blue collection and relay boxes to be installed shortly.
  • 5: The number of letter carriers murdered while doing their jobs since 2022.
  • Over 2,000 percent: The increase in high-volume mail theft attacks between 2010 and 2023.

Sources:

  • House Committee on Oversight and Accountability press release
  • Testimony of Julius Rothstein, Deputy Inspector General at the USPS Office of the Inspector General
  • Testimony of Brian Renfroe, President of the National Association of Letter Carriers
  • Testimony of Frank Albergo, President of the Postal Police Officers Association
  • Testimony of Brendan Donohue, Inspector in Charge at the United States Postal Inspection Service
  • Testimony of Anthony Holloway, Chief of Police at the St. Petersburg, Florida Police Department