Meng Urges Postal Service To Address Mail Theft In Queens

QUEENS, NY – Today, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) called on the United States Postal Service (USPS) to immediately address the theft of mail from postal relay boxes in Queens, which are the dark green boxes next to many of the blue collection boxes.

Meng called for the Postal Service to take action in a letter she sent to the agency's district manager who oversees postal operations in Queens and Long Island. The Congresswoman sent the correspondence after recently receiving complaints that thieves are breaking into relay boxes in her district and stealing mail that is stored inside by letter carriers. These relay boxes can hold thousands of letters for local residents and are vulnerable to break-ins.

"Issues regarding mail security has been an ongoing and persistent problem in Queens over the past few years, and mail theft from relay boxes is the latest issue," said Meng. "Mail is one of the oldest and most trusted forms of communication across our nation, and that trust is eroded when constituents are not getting or are unable to safely send their mail. We must do more to protect our residents from identity theft, having important documents stolen, or having money removed from bank accounts. I know the improvements needed to make these relay boxes secure are in the Postal Service's abilities. Now, all that is left to do is to implement the required security."

A copy of Meng's letter can be viewed here and the text is below.

Several years ago, the Postal Service retrofitted blue collection boxes in Queens with mail slots after Meng urged the agency to do so. The Congresswoman made the request in 2018 to combat the problem of ‘mail fishing' in the borough which is when criminals place string connected to a sticky material into collection the boxes, and 'fish' out the envelopes. The narrower slots make it more difficult for thieves to steal the mail that is inside.

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July 7, 2022

Mr. Frank Calabrese

District Manager

United States Postal Service

160 Duryea Road

Melville, N.Y. 11747

Dear Mr. Calabrese:

I write to respectfully request that you consider taking immediate steps to address the theft of mail from United States Postal Service (USPS) "Relay Boxes" in the 6th Congressional District located in Queens, New York.

Recently, my constituents have been impacted by a surge of mail theft, in which dark green relay mailboxes have been targeted for theft. The relay boxes, unlike standard blue mailboxes, do not feature a slot and require a key to open. These boxes can store thousands of letters at a time and are vulnerable to break-ins. As you know, mail theft is a crime with serious consequences. Identities can be stolen, money removed from bank accounts, sensitive documents obtained, and more. Having just one letter stolen can have lasting effects on a victim. Seniors are particularly vulnerable, and that is why it is crucial for this to be a top priority of the USPS.

I am encouraged by the USPS's recent coordination with the New York City Police Department to arrest six individuals charged with mail theft and fraud in Queens. I hope that partnerships with law enforcement and other relevant agencies continue, as they are vital in keeping our communities safe. I also urge the USPS to consider further initiatives to improve the security of relay boxes to decrease their vulnerability to theft. I have full faith in the USPS's ability to make necessary security upgrades as they did with the blue mailboxes in my district – an effective initiative that I encouraged.

I appreciate your immediate attention to this matter. I look forward to your response detailing a course of action to ensure that the mail of my constituents is secured.