Background

This report presents the results of our audit of Mail Theft Mitigation and Response at the Mount Greenwood, Stockyard, and Twenty Second Street Stations in Chicago, IL (Project Number 24-100). The stations are in the Illinois 1 District of the Retail and Delivery Operations, Central Area. Our objective was to assess the U.S. Postal Service’s actions taken to mitigate and respond to mail theft in Chicago, IL.

The Postal Service’s mission is to provide the nation with trusted, safe, and secure mail services, including for the more than 3.7 billion pieces of mail volume collected and delivered in Chicago, IL, in fiscal year (FY) 2023. Unfortunately, mail theft occurs in various ways. Individuals use stolen universal keys — called arrow keys— to access collection boxes, outdoor parcel lockers, cluster box units, and apartment panels. Mail theft can also occur by individuals fishing or breaking into collection boxes with force, residential mailbox break-ins, package theft, and carrier robberies. It is imperative for the Postal Service to address mail theft issues to protect the Postal Service and its employees and earn the public’s trust.

Concerns about how the Postal Service prevents and responds to mail theft frequently appear in the media and have been a topic of congressional hearings and inquiries received by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (OIG). News articles have highlighted theft from blue collection boxes in the Chicago area, which included customers’ personal and business checks, financial documents, and confidential information.