Mail Theft Can Get Serious. Here's How to Reduce Your Chances of Becoming a Target

With mail theft on the rise over the past several years, federal and local officials are exploring new ways to keep documents, bills and packages safe — and out of the hands of thieves.

USPS says that postal inspectors — the officers that make up its own federal law enforcement arm, known as the US Postal Inspection Service — made over 1,200 arrests nationwide for letter carrier robberies and mail theft from May 2023 to March of this year.

The arrests stemmed partly from “law enforcement surges” the Inspection Service conducted, including two in San Francisco, in response to a sixfold increase in letter carrier robberies between fiscal years 2019 and 2022. The targeted surges bring in support from multiple agencies in addition to the USPIS, including the Department of Justice, the Postal Service Office of the Inspector General, other federal agencies, and local law enforcement.

• Jump straight to: Tips for reducing your risks of mail theft

There was also an 87% jump in reports of theft from “high-volume” mailbox clusters — often found at condominium or townhome complexes — during the same time frame.

Mail theft isn’t just inconvenient for those unlucky enough to be targeted. In addition to losing private documents, medicines or online purchases, mail theft “frequently results in identity theft, check fraud and other financial crimes,” Santa Clara County Undersheriff Ken Binder says.

Even as efforts ramp up to tamp down on mail theft, federal and local officials say there are some important steps you can take immediately to help keep your mail secure.

Be warned that while many of these tips are free or low-cost, some of their advice requires spending money on new or upgraded equipment and might not be appropriate for everyone.

Practice good mail management

Collect your mail every day as soon as you can after it is delivered. Simply removing your mail from the box gives any would-be thieves less time to take what’s yours.

If you plan to be away from home, use the U.S. Postal Service’s hold mail service or ask a neighbor, friend or family member to pick up your mail and packages for you daily.

Remember that your outgoing mail — the stuff you send — can also be intercepted by thieves from postal collection boxes. The agency is actively working on replacing the familiar blue boxes with newer, more secure ones across the country. But you can also consider depositing your outgoing mail in secure locations, such as inside your local post office, at your place of business, or handing it directly to a letter carrier, the USPS says.

Track your mail so you’ll know if it hasn’t arrived

Sign up for the U.S. Postal Service’s free Informed Delivery program. You’ll receive an email each morning with a preview of what your mail carrier will be delivering to your mailbox that day, and you can track and manage package deliveries, as well.

Law enforcement officials say knowing what mail to expect each day can help you notice immediately if something is missing.

For important documents or packages, ask the sender to use Certified Mail or a delivery service that offers tracking and alerts so you know when to expect delivery. If possible, consider requiring a signature upon delivery for things you purchase online so they don’t end up in the wrong hands, Binder says.

Make your mailbox more secure

Consider installing a security camera or doorbell camera with a clear view of your mailbox and entryway so you can monitor who approaches your mailbox.

Install a secure, lockable mailbox to replace your current one. Some models offer more features than others, including tines or combs to prevent mailbox fishing once items are inside. Depending on size and features, some locking mailboxes can cost around $25, while others range much higher, selling for around $100 or more.

If your mailbox is targeted, report it swiftly

If your mail is stolen, report it as soon as possible by submitting an online complaint to the Postal Inspection Service at uspis.gov/report or calling 877-876-2455.

Report suspicious activity near mailboxes, either by calling 911 (if it’s happening in the moment) or by contacting your local police department or sheriff’s department through a non-emergency line.

An October 2023 report by the USPIS (PDF) says growth in mail theft “likely has been driven by a marked shift by organized criminal groups towards the perpetration of low-risk, high-reward financial crimes.”

Mail theft is a serious federal offense. A person found guilty of mail theft can face penalties of up to five years in prison and fines of up to $250,000, officials say.

South Bay Congressman Jimmy Panetta, concerned that enough is not being done to stem the tide of these crimes, also recently introduced a new bipartisan bill called the Mail Theft Act.

The bill is in its early stages, but officials say it would raise the issue of mail theft as a priority for federal law enforcement and require those agencies to work with state and local law enforcement to develop a coordinated approach to address the issue.