The Subcommittee on Government Operations recently held a hearing to address the growing issue of mail theft and crime. The hearing, titled "An Update on Mail Theft and Crime," focused on how Congress can support the United States Postal Service (USPS) in tackling these challenges.
During the session, Julius Rothstein, Deputy Inspector General at the USPS Office of the Inspector General, highlighted a case where a digital marketplace was used to sell stolen checks, including U.S. Treasury checks. This led to an investigation in North Carolina involving a postal employee and co-conspirators who stole checks worth nearly $24 million.
Brian Renfroe, President of the National Association of Letter Carriers, shared his concerns about increasing violence against postal workers. He stated that since 2022, five letter carriers have been murdered while working, and many others have faced violent attacks.
Frank Albergo, President of the Postal Police Officers Association, pointed out a significant rise in high-volume mail theft attacks from just over 2,200 in 2010 to more than 49,000 by 2023. He criticized the inspection service for not addressing this crisis adequately.
Brendan Donohue from the United States Postal Inspection Service discussed Project Safe Delivery as part of their strategy to combat mail theft and protect postal employees. Since its launch in May 2023, they have installed thousands of high-security collection boxes and replaced outdated locks with electronic ones.
Julius Rothstein also mentioned using advanced technology and data analytics to efficiently focus resources on mail theft cases. A collaboration with financial services has led to identifying around $50 million in stolen financial instruments.
Anthony Holloway from St. Petersburg Police Department described their partnership with USPS to tackle check fraud linked to stolen mail through a Financial Crime Task Force.
Subcommittee Chairman Pete Sessions (R-Texas) asked about using "notices of delivery" for improving USPS investigations. Mr. Rothstein explained how informed delivery systems notify customers about expected deliveries.
Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Ala.) sought information on where most mail thefts occur and preventive measures for securing personal information against such crimes.
The hearing emphasized Congress's role in supporting USPS efforts against mail theft while ensuring safety for both postal workers and customers across America.
