USPS Warns of Mail Theft: Don't Mail Checks if You Can Avoid It
There has been an uptick in mail-related crime.
As almost everyone has learned the hard way, there are no guarantees when it comes to mailing letters and packages. Sometimes items take much longer than promised to arrive at their final destination. Other times they get damaged, lost, or even stolen. In recent months, the United States Postal Service has warned there has been a surge in mail-related crimes, and now they are warning the public against mailing checks.
According to the USPS, 305 mail carriers were robbed in the first half of fiscal year 2023. In 2022 there were a total of 412 robberies. They also maintain that mailboxes and USPS blue collection boxes are being targeted by crime.
Due to the rise in crime, mailed checks have been stolen. One crime ring that was broken last month in Milwaukee involved suspects using stolen "arrow keys" (a universal USPS key), resulting in a whopping 900 stolen checks out of postal boxes.
So, what should you do with your mail? USPS is advising Americans to avoid dropping mail in blue collection boxes or leaving it in their personal mailbox. Instead, they recommend walking into a postal office and handing them to a person. You can also hand mail directly to your mail carrier.
Taking precautions is particularly important when it comes to mailing checks. "If you are choosing to mail a check, it is always recommended that you use a secure mail drop such as inside a post office versus an unsecured public-facing mailbox," Caitlin Driscoll of the Better Business Bureau told CBS Pittsburgh.
The U.S. Postal Service also recommends that people should not allow ingoing or outgoing mail to sit in their mailbox. "You can significantly reduce the chance of being victimized by simply removing your mail from your mailbox every day," the agency said in a statement.
