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OFFICIALS SOUND ALARM ON GROWING MAIL THEFT 'EPIDEMIC' PLAGUING NEW YORK CITY

WABC

Wednesday, August 16, 2023
According to the U.S. Postal Service, there have been more 25,000 mail theft
incidents in the first half of fiscal year 2023. N.J. Burkett has more on what
you can do to protect yourself.
MASPETH, Queens (WABC) -- There's a big push underway to try to protect New
Yorkers from blatant mail theft, a puzzling and disturbing crime that has become
a growing problem.

In 2022, the U.S. Postal Service reported more than 38,000 incidents of mail
theft. In the first half of this year, we're on pace to eclipse that mark, with
already more than 25,000 incidents reported.

Mail theft victim Joe Croce says it was infuriating watching the same thieves
open up his neighborhood postal relay box and make off with huge bags of mail,
including credit cards, bank statements and government checks.

"Broad daylight every time," Croce said. "I couldn't believe it at first and
then you start to believe it after the 10th time that, you know, it just keeps
happening."

Mail theft is exploding in New York City and across the nation. In the past five
years, more than 1,000 people have been arrested nationwide. But that's just the
tip of the iceberg.

"We knew we couldn't arrest our way out of this problem," said Jon Del Giudice
of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Postal inspectors are sounding the alarm.



Congresswoman Grace Meng says it's becoming an epidemic in parts of Queens,
where thieves are stealing keys from letter carriers and using the keys to open
the green relay boxes before the letters can be delivered to people's homes.

"This is a new way that the mail thieves have been targeting the theft," Meng
said.

"Two people pull up in a car," Croce said. "They go in the box, open it with
their own key. It's one big bag in the box and they take it, get in the car and
they're gone. In no time."

Croce said they come on a Friday as people get their checks, and they come after
a holiday, and it's happening everywhere.

Authorities say you should check your mailbox regularly and send mail from the
post office, if possible.



They say to avoid mailing checks and try to conduct your financial transactions
online.

They also urge people to report suspicious activity to the local post office,
where it can be referred to federal postal inspectors.





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