‘Doubling down on our efforts;’ USPS announces new steps to prevent mail theft, carrier robberies

The United States Postal Service and United States Postal Inspection Service announced Friday it is taking new steps to prevent mail theft and letter carrier robberies.

“We’re doubling down on our efforts to protect our Postal employees and the security of the mail. We are hardening targets – both physical and digital – to make them less desirable to thieves and working with our law enforcement partners to bring perpetrators to justice,” said Postal Inspection Service Chief Gary Barksdale.

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The Postal Service said it is installing 12,000 high-security blue collection boxes nationwide to make access to their contents more difficult for criminals and is also evaluating replacing existing blue collection boxes.

It is also replacing 49,000 antiquated arrow locks with electronic locks in an effort to stop the increase in letter carrier robberies nationwide.

Previously, the News Center 7 I-Team reported mail carriers were being targeted by thieves who would steal arrow keys, which are used to open virtually every mail box.

“As crime rises, so do the threats against our public servants,” said Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer Louis DeJoy. “The men and women of the Postal Service are walking our nation’s streets every day to fulfil our mission of delivering mail and packages to the American people. Every Postal employee deserves to work in safety and to be free from targeting by criminals seeking to access the public’s mail.”

For more information, you can visit the Postal Service’s website.

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