USPS Makes Over 600 Arrests in Crackdown on Postal Crime, Mail Theft, Carrier Robberies

Over 100 arrests for robberies and 530 for mail theft upon implementing "Operation Safe Delivery" since May; USPS to process upgrades for postal carriers' universal keys as part of ongoing measures against mail-related crimes.

• The USPS enforcement operation called "Operation Safe Delivery" has resulted in over 600 arrests since May, over 100 of which were for robberies and 530 for mail theft. Criminals have been targeting mail carriers for their universal keys, often at gunpoint.
• The Postal Service has initiated measures to replace tens of thousands of carriers' universal keys which are susceptible to theft. Already, 6,500 keys have been replaced with electronic locks in selected cities, with an additional 42,500 planned to be switched.
• In order to prevent mail theft, USPS has also installed more than 10,000 high-security blue mailboxes in high-risk locations to inhibit theft attempts by criminals 'fishing out' mail.
• Upon implementing changes, USPS has managed to lower fraudulent change-of-address transactions by 99 percent in the last fiscal year and has also reduced counterfeit postage by 50 percent.
• Interfering with mail delivery comes with severe penalties - theft alone can result in up to five years in prison, while possession or disposal of postal property can yield a sentence of up to 10. Assaulting a mail carrier can lead to a 10-year sentence for first-time offenses, and repeat offenses can be penalized with up to 25 years.

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