How to Protect Your Mail from Thieves
How to Protect Your Mail from Thieves U.S. Postal Inspection
Service
Contemporary
Every day, the U.S. Postal Service safely and efficiently
delivers millions of checks, money orders, credit cards and
other valuable items. Unfortunately, thieves know this, and are
waiting to steal your mail. Postal Inspectors across the country
work to protect your mail, but with deliveries to well over 100
million addresses, the Postal Inspection Service can't do the
job alone.
Make it harder for thieves to steal your mail. Follow these tips:
* Never send cash or coins in the mail. Use checks or money
orders. * Promptly remove mail from your mailbox after delivery,
especially if you're expecting checks, credit cards, food
coupons or other negotiable items. If you won't be home when the
items are expected, ask a trusted friend or neighbor to pick up
your mail. * Have your local post office hold your mail while
you're on vacation, or absent from your home for a long period
of time. * If you don't receive a check, food coupon or other
valuable mail you're expecting, contact the issuing agency
immediately. * If you change your address, immediately notify
your post office and anyone with whom you do business via the
mail. * Always deposit your mail in a blue Postal Service mail
collection box or mail slot at your local post office, or hand
it to your letter carrier. Don't place it for carrier pick-up in
a mailbox or area where it can be easily stolen. * Consider
starting a neighborhood watch program. By exchanging work and
vacation schedules with trusted friends and neighbors, you can
watch each other's mailboxes (as well as homes). If you observe
a mail thief at work, call the local police immediately, and
then your nearest Postal Inspector. * If you believe your mail
was stolen, report it immediately to your local postmaster or
nearest Postal Inspector. You'll be asked to file a formal
complaint using PS Form 2016, Mail Theft and Vandalism
Complaint. By analyzing information collected from the form,
Postal Inspectors may determine whether your problem is isolated
or part of a larger mail theft problem in your neighborhood--and
it may help Inspectors locate and apprehend the thieves.
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