Thieves working the late shift hit blue U.S. Postal Service collection boxes at five Pittsburgh-area post offices overnight on Monday, and now federal investigators are on the case.
According to authorities, the outside collection boxes at post offices in Russellton, Ingomar, Pleasant Hills, Brentwood and Dravosburg were all targeted during those overnight hours. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has opened an active investigation and is urging anyone who suspects their mail was taken to come forward.
What investigators say
Channel 11 reported that a spokesperson for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service confirmed the thefts and said inspectors from the external crimes and mail theft teams are handling the probe. As reported by WPXI, officials have publicly identified the five affected post offices and the overnight time frame, but they have not released any suspect descriptions.
How to report suspected theft
Authorities say anyone who believes their mail was stolen should file two reports: one with their local police department and one with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The Inspection Service operates a mail theft reporting portal and a dedicated hotline for victims and witnesses. You can submit a complaint online through the US Postal Inspection Service website or call 1-877-876-2455. If you see a crime in progress, call 911 first.
Why collection boxes are targeted
Federal agencies say stolen mail often feeds into check fraud and identity theft schemes that can bring quick cash for organized criminal rings. A September 2024 analysis from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network found more than $688 million in suspicious activity linked to mail-theft-related check fraud in the six months after its alert, highlighting how valuable stolen checks can be to fraudsters.
The Postal Service has responded by installing higher security collection boxes, upgrading locks and, in spots that keep getting hit, removing or relocating boxes to cut the risk. Those steps were outlined by USPS officials and are reflected in federal guidance on combating mail theft.
Local pattern
The overnight hits fit into a broader pattern around Pittsburgh. Earlier this month, Crafton police reported multiple check-washing cases linked to an outdoor post office collection box, stressing how thieves can alter stolen checks and cash them for higher amounts.
Coverage of how criminals turned that box into an easy target ran alongside reports from other local outlets, and authorities used those cases to warn residents to hand checks to clerks at the counter instead of dropping them in curbside boxes.
How to protect your mail
Postal and financial experts recommend a few basic precautions. For outgoing checks, use the inside of the post office or hand them directly to a clerk. Sign up for Informed Delivery so you can preview incoming mail. Use indelible ink when writing checks, and keep a close eye on your bank accounts and cleared check images.
The Postal Service also advises retrieving mail promptly, using its Hold Mail service when you are out of town and reporting any suspicious people or vehicles lingering near collection boxes. If you find an altered or washed check, contact your bank’s fraud unit immediately, file a police report and then notify postal inspectors.
Investigators are asking anyone with security video, photos or other tips tied to the overnight thefts to contact local police and the Postal Inspection Service. The Inspection Service’s reporting portal and hotline remain the official channels for victims and witnesses: the reporting page is at US Postal Inspection Service, and the hotline number is 1-877-876-2455.
