With mail theft on the rise, Congress has taken note and is now urging action to assist the United States Postal Service (USPS) in combating this growing issue. A recent hearing by the Subcommittee on Government Operations titled "An Update on Mail Theft and Crime" delved into the challenges posed by the increase in mail-related crimes, including theft, delivery delays, and safety risks for USPS employees. The hearing also focused on technological advancements and new procedures designed to bolster mail security, according to the press release.
Testimony provided by Julius Rothstein, Deputy Inspector General at the USPS Office of Inspector General, highlighted criminal activities that not only impact individuals but also involve federal resources. “In another case, our special agents uncovered a large digital marketplace that sold stolen checks, which also included U.S. Treasury checks. This led to a joint federal and local law enforcement investigation North Carolina, and we found a postal employee and co- conspirators had stolen checks and sold them on this digital marketplace, costing victims close to $24 million,” Rothstein told the Oversight Committee.
The safety of mail carriers is becoming an increasingly urgent concern, highlighted by National Association of Letter Carriers President Brian Renfroe, who noted that five letter carriers have been killed on the job since 2022. His remarks, delivered during a recent hearing, underscore the rising threat of violence facing postal workers.
Adding to the concerns, Frank Albergo, President of the Postal Police Officers Association, pointed out a significant increase in high-volume mail theft attacks, which jumped from just over 2,200 in 2010 to over 49,000 by 2023. Albergo criticized the inspection service’s handling of the crisis, accusing it of denying the existence of the problem, suppressing internal data, and pulling its own uniformed officers from the streets. The FBI has even issued warnings advising against mailing checks, reflecting a stark lack of confidence in the USPS's ability to secure mail, an issue Brendan Donohue, Inspector in Charge at the United States Postal Inspection Service, sought to address through Project Safe Delivery.
Amid these ongoing challenges, technological solutions have been a beacon of progress. Rothstein discussed how a sophisticated data tool—developed in collaboration with financial industry experts and the US Department of Treasury—has been pivotal in tracking down lost financial instruments. Rothstein highlighted the tool’s value in proactively identifying mail theft, noting its success in uncovering approximately $50 million in stolen checks and prompting significant law enforcement actions, as noted by the Oversight Committee.
Partnerships with local law enforcement have also been instrumental, as illustrated by a new Financial Crime Task Force in St. Petersburg, Florida. Chief Anthony Holloway of the St. Petersburg Police Department shared his optimism about the initiative's ability to bring closure to victims of mail theft and expressed a commitment to pursuing criminals across city boundaries.
