AUSTIN, Texas — A new warning focuses on the surge in mailbox break-ins the KVUE Defenders told you about a few weeks ago.
Postal carriers left notes inside some mailboxes in Austin, encouraging box owners to check for mail daily.
“In light of the upcoming holiday season and recent surge in mailbox break-ins, we ask that you check your boxes and retrieve your packages daily. This will allow us to provide you with the best possible service – both now and in the future. Many thanks, Your Postal Carrier team,” the note shows.
On Nov. 9, the KVUE Defenders aired surveillance video showing thieves using a key to get inside cluster mailboxes in four southwest Austin neighborhoods. Investigators say the thieves use a type of master key known as an arrow key to get inside the mailboxes the same way a letter carrier would gain access.
The KVUE Defenders continued asking questions and digging into USPS operations. In July, USPS launched a pilot project to replace 49,000 locks with an electronic device.
“A total of 12,000 high-security blue collection boxes are being installed nationwide, and 49,000 electronic locks will replace traditional postal keys. The exact location of these replacements will not be disclosed,” said Silvia Torres, U.S. postal inspector and public information officer for the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).
Documents acquired by the KVUE Defenders show details about pilot projects in Texas centered around arrow key accountability. Mail carriers scan arrow key barcodes to check out/check in arrow keys each shift.
“eArrow locks are being installed in collect/other boxes to add another level of security and will provide daily visibility of the locks being used,” documents show.
Information regarding the postal route, date/time the lock was accessed, employee who accessed the lock, serial numbers and location information are automatically documented. Records show the carrier will use both an electronic device and an arrow lock key to open collection boxes and cluster mailboxes.
Project locations include six Houston sites, at least one in Richmond, two in Corpus Christi, one in Bay City, one in Alice and one in Cleveland, Texas. If these pilot projects prove successful, the USPS will still need to figure out how to fund replacing locks nationwide.
A September audit from the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General shows seven recommendations to enhance the Postal Service's response to mail thefts.
“We recommend the chief technology officer and executive vice president develop a plan to include proposed quantities, projected cost and actionable milestones to fully deploy the eArrow lock and high-security mailbox initiatives, and include measures to assess their effectiveness,” the report shows.
Managers did not agree with all of the recommendations, writing, “For locks, the nationwide deployment for all locks (over 9 million) as the OIG is insisting on would cost over $2.6B in hardware alone.”
The managers also wrote they plan to replace more collection boxes and locks during Fiscal Year 2024.
Meanwhile, the amount of attacks on mail carriers increased this year.
“Incidents of letter carrier robberies are on the rise across the nation. In FY22, 412 USPS letter carriers were robbed on the job. With 305 incidents reported in the first half of FY23, these incidents are increasingly more prevalent. Additionally, the agency reported an increase in high-volume mail theft incidents from mail receptacles including blue collection boxes: 38,500 in FY22 and more than 25,000 in the first half of FY23,” a USPS press release showed on May 12, 2023.
The KVUE Defenders searched federal court records for the Western District of Texas dating back a decade. Five people have been charged with stealing keys or locks adopted by the post office since 2015. Most of them took a plea deal.
Daniel Avila Jr. did not. He was indicted in November 2022. Court records show he and Stevie Ciara Bookout were arrested for stealing a key from a post office in San Antonio.
Bookout took a plea agreement in September, entering a guilty plea for possession of stolen mail. Sentencing is set for Nov. 30.
Avila’s trial for "possession of stolen mail, stealing keys or locks adopted by the post office" and "theft of property used by postal service" is set for Dec. 4, 2023.
The KVUE Defenders asked postal inspectors what they’re doing specifically in Central Texas to enhance security for cluster mailboxes. They wouldn’t release any information.
“Mail theft is an opportunistic crime. The longer your mail sits in any mailbox, the more susceptible it is to theft,” Torres wrote.
Torres said people could hand outgoing mail to the mail carrier or take it to the post office to make sure the mail goes out safely.
“Postal Inspectors rely on reports by customers to identify any items taken from the mail. If you are a victim of mail theft, you should report it to your local police and to the Postal Inspection Service by calling our hotline at 877-876-2455 or visiting our website at www.USPIS.gov/report,” wrote Torres.
In May, the USPS press office offered tips to protect against mail theft.
“Customers can take several steps to protect their mail and their letter carriers, including:
- "Don’t let incoming or outgoing mail sit in your mailbox. You can significantly reduce the chance of being victimized by simply removing your mail from your mailbox every day.
- "Deposit outgoing mail through a number of secure manners including inside your local Post Office or at your place of business or by handing it to a letter carrier.
- "Sign up for Informed Delivery and get daily digest emails that preview your mail and packages scheduled to arrive soon.
- "Become involved and engaged in your neighborhood via neighborhood watches and local social media groups to spread awareness and share information.
- "Keep an eye out for your letter carrier. If you see something that looks suspicious, or you see someone following your carrier, call 911."
Then, on Tuesday, the USPS press office issued a release showing “U.S. Postal Service Strongly Positioned Ahead of Holiday Surge.”
The release shows, “To help customers experience seamless shipping and mailing during the holidays and beyond, USPS offers the following tips:
- "Send Early. Avoid the last-minute rush by sending items well before the recommended holiday shipping and mailing dates available at the online USPS Holiday Newsroom.
- "Use Online Tools – Customers can use Click-N-Ship to purchase shipping labels, order Priority Mail packaging, and schedule free carrier pick up directly from their home or office. The Postal Service also offers stamps, shipping supplies, collectibles, and unique items to customers online at The Postal Store.
- "Stay Informed – Sign up for Informed Delivery, a free service from USPS that shows customers preview images of incoming mail, plus status updates about incoming and outbound packages.
- "Ship Safely – Metallic mercury and devices containing metallic mercury are always prohibited in the mail stream. This includes antique items such as thermometers, barometers, blood pressure monitors and similar devices. For more information, read “Mercury Remains Prohibited in the Mail” in the online USPS Newsroom.
- "Stay Updated – Utilize the Postal Service’s convenient online USPS Holiday Newsroom at usps.com/holidaynews to find resources, tools, and expert advice to help make holiday shipping and mailing effortless.”