Mail Theft Epidemic Sweeps New York City Neighborhoods, Prompting Calls for Action
Residents of several New York City neighborhoods have been grappling with a rising tide of mail thefts, leading to a growing outcry against the United States Postal Service (USPS). The issue, which has plagued areas such as Bayside, Douglaston, and Astoria, has left residents concerned about the security of their mail and frustrated with the lack of notification from USPS.
In one instance, longtime Bayside resident Tim Dillon was eagerly awaiting the arrival of his new, enhanced New York State driver’s license when he discovered that his mail had been stolen. I approached the letter carrier the following day, Dillon recounted, Sheepishly, he said the mail was stolen out of the green mailbox. It has been an issue here in Bayside, Douglaston.
Astoria, another neighborhood hit hard by mail theft, witnessed repeated incidents captured on video. Perpetrators were observed using a key to gain access to the green USPS relay mailboxes used by letter carriers for storage. Shockingly, neither Astoria nor Bayside residents were informed by USPS about the missing mail, leaving them feeling disregarded and vulnerable to potential fraud.
In response to the growing concern, Congresswoman Grace Meng, along with the NYPD and the United States Postal Inspection Service, held a press conference in Maspeth to share mail theft prevention tips with the public. To prevent further incidents, NYPD Deputy Inspector Kevin Coleman advised residents to drop off their mail directly at the post office instead of relying on outdoor mailboxes.
The burden on residents to safeguard their own mail has been met with frustration and resistance. Dillon expressed his dismay, stating, No one wants to take responsibility for it. Others argue that USPS should bear the duty of ensuring mail security, rather than placing it on the public. This notion challenges USPS’s current approach, which depends on individuals to report incidents of mail theft.
In an effort to enhance security measures, USPS plans to install 12,000 high-security blue boxes throughout the country, replacing the outdated arrow keys used to open green boxes. However, the postal service has yet to provide a timeline for phasing out the arrow keys, leaving communities vulnerable in the meantime.
Tragically, some mail carriers have fallen victim to bribes, receiving offers as high as tens of thousands of dollars for their keys. Refusal to accept such bribes puts carriers at risk of facing violent confrontations. Disturbingly, according to a USPS report, over 400 mail carriers were robbed on the job in 2022, with more than 300 robberies occurring in just the first half of this year.
While USPS takes steps to improve mail security, it is crucial that residents remain vigilant and take precautions to protect their correspondence. The public should stay informed about incidents of mail theft in their respective neighborhoods. In the meantime, lawmakers, law enforcement agencies, and USPS must work together to address this growing issue, ensuring the safe and secure delivery of mail for all New York City residents.
