MENG ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF FIRST EVER MAIL THEFT PROBE IN QUEENS

QUEENS, NY – U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) announced today the results of the first ever federal investigation into mail theft in Queens conducted by the United States Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General (USPS OIG), and the probe found numerous problems with how the Postal Service is addressing the problem in the borough.

The audit, which began in January 2024 at the request of Congresswoman Meng, revealed significant mismanagement in the deployment and installation of mail theft mitigation initiatives throughout Queens. The report also indicates that three local postal facilities failed to track and secure keys to green relay boxes. Nor did they properly track the installation of high-security boxes. Furthermore, they failed to maintain the condition of collection and relay boxes, contributing to the persistent theft.

The Office of Inspector General is an independent entity within the Postal Service. It oversees the integrity and efficiency of the nation’s postal system, ensuring the accountability and transparency of postal operations.

“The inspector general’s report confirms what we have long known: mail theft is a persistent problem in Queens, but it is far worse than previously known. From checks and packages to prescriptions and personal information, the gross mismanagement by the Postal Service created a permissive environment for thieves to take advantage of borough residents. Local management must be held accountable,” said Congresswoman Meng. “Following this extensive audit that I called for, there is a clear lack of enforcement and accountability, as well as significant mismanagement in deploying all initiatives put in place to combat mail theft. The report provides specific recommendations to regional leadership in Queens, to properly mitigate theft and protect local letter carriers. I urge local postal officials to implement these recommendations immediately, and I will continue to monitor the situation and hold the USPS accountable until mail theft no longer plagues our communities.”

From April 1, 2023, to September 30, 2023, customers submitted 3,295 inquiries to the Postal Service related to missing mail or potential mail theft in Queens. 45 percent of those inquiries were related to stolen mail or packages. And these are just the incidents that have been reported. 

Specific findings of the report include the following. 

On May 12, 2023, the Postal Service and Postal Inspection Service announced a joint initiative called Project Safe Delivery to combat the rise in mail theft and carrier robberies. Prevention efforts in this initiative include the rollout of high-security collection boxes (HSCBs), electronic arrow locks (eLocks), and modified arrow lock (MAL) keys in areas with high incidents of mail theft. The plan also seeks to enhance employee safety and strengthen consumer protections. It was announced after Meng called for more to be done to address mail theft. However, the report reveals significant mismanagement in tracking and deploying the initiative in Queens.

The report indicates that the majority of the HSCBs installed were not properly tracked by the postal service. It also shows that, prior to the start of the OIG audit, only 38 percent of the eLocks provided to USPS sites in Queens had been installed. Additionally, the report reveals that local postal locations did not properly safeguard their arrow keys in accordance with postal policy. Postal Service policy states that arrow keys must remain secured until they are individually assigned to personnel. Carriers must keep arrow keys secured while on duty and return them at the end of each workday. Upon return, arrow keys should be deposited in a secure location, and a supervisor or clerk must verify all keys have been returned and accounted for daily. As of January 2024, 67 arrow keys at three local USPS locations were unsecured.

In addition to the significant mismanagement of anti-mail theft initiatives, district management also failed to maintain or record the physical condition of blue collection and green relay boxes. Many of the boxes observed during the duration of the audit had door gaps. They were also corroded, cracked, or missing leg bolts. Without performing annual inspections and routine maintenance on the boxes, they are subject to an increased risk of theft.

Since 2022, Meng has urged the Postal Service to do more to combat the spike in mail theft in Queens. She sent letters to officials in July and December of that year, and this past August, she partnered with the Postal Inspection Service and police in the borough to advise area residents on how they can help prevent their mail from being stolen. The Congresswoman also introduced legislation last year to strengthen the Postal Service’s ability to go after criminal organizations driving the theft of mail. In addition, Meng recently hailed the news of people being arrested for stealing mail in Queens.