Declining Mail Theft Cases in Ohio, While Steady or Increasing Nationwide, as per Federal Records

Nov. 2—Mail collection box thefts and robberies of the keys to unlock them are down in Ohio this year, but similar national crime numbers remain steady.

According to records obtained by this news organization from the U.S. Postal Service, reported mail collection box thefts in Ohio totaled 290 through last week, indicating a 47% decrease from last year.

Meanwhile, thefts of arrow keys used to secure collection boxes reported by mail carriers in the state have decreased from 34 last year to 23 through Oct. 27, as per federal records. No arrow key thefts were reported in 2020.

Documents reveal that mail and arrow key theft cases have increased by over 400% in Ohio from 2021 to last year.

Authorities and police records confirm that armed robbers have targeted mail carriers in southwest Ohio, stealing arrow keys and cashing stolen checks worth hundreds of thousands of dollars that were issued to someone else.

Nicole Lutz of the postal inspector’s Cincinnati office suggested that the surge in mailbox theft in recent years in Ohio may be attributed to the dissemination of postal service security information through traditional media, social media, encrypted messaging platforms, and the dark web.

This year, the postal service has adopted a comprehensive approach called Project Safe Delivery to address these crimes. The project focuses on protecting employees and mail delivery, fostering awareness and education to prevent incidents, and enforcing laws that safeguard mail flow.

Postal inspectors have conducted targeted law enforcement sweeps in major metropolitan regions, including Chicago, San Francisco, and cities across Ohio, where organized postal crime poses significant threats. Additionally, they have replaced outdated arrow locks with electronic locks in select cities and raised the reward amount from $50,000 to $150,000, both of which have been implemented in Ohio.

More than 6,500 keys, commonly used in financial crimes like altering mailed checks, have been replaced with electronic versions nationwide, and an additional 42,500 electronic locks will be added throughout the country. In select high postal crime areas, arrow key accountability reviews will be intensified.

A Dayton-area armed robbery last month involved the theft of an arrow key. The postal service tripled the reward offers for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects, resulting in an increase in tips, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

Frank Albergo, national president of the postal police officers’ association, expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of replacing locks. While acknowledging the impressive feat of replacing 49,000 locks, he emphasized the need to protect letter carriers as well, asserting that postal police officers should be stationed on the streets.

Federal records indicate that national mail theft numbers are on track to match those of 2022, while arrow key robberies have already surpassed last year’s figures. A recent inspector general’s audit focuses on national arrow key thefts and recommends enhanced oversight, accountability, training on arrow key policies, and the finalization of a mail theft strategy by the end of 2023.

When questioned about the implementation of these recommendations, Lutz deferred to the management’s comments in the audit, highlighting the introduction of a monthly arrow key certification mechanism as a measure that provides multiple layers of oversight.

Although the postal service agrees with some of the changes proposed in the audit, Albergo criticized the prolonged timeline for implementing a mail theft strategy, questioning why it has taken four years to finalize the strategy when the issue was highlighted in an audit three years ago. He believes that significant change in mail theft rates can only be achieved by restoring the presence of uniformed postal police officers.

MAIL THEFTS

Collection boxes

Arrow keys

-Thefts reported through Oct. 27.

Source: U.S. Postal Inspection Service.