Mail Theft
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The OIG plays a critical role in detecting and preventing mail theft. This includes both investigations into postal employees who steal mail and oversight of the Postal Service’s efforts to mitigate mail theft. Below are some highlights from this work. improve the accountability of arrow keys.
Driving Investigative Results Through Analytics
We’ve developed sophisticated analytics tools that identify where mail in the postal network is being stolen, allowing us to find and stop mail theft by postal employees and external collaborators. You can read about some of these cases on our Investigative Case Highlights page.
Identifying Risk
We’ve identified much needed areas for improvement including the security of arrow keys — the keys used to unlock collection boxes and outdoor parcel lockers — and restricting what personal items employees can have on the workroom floor.
Providing Solutions
Our work recommended new controls to better manage arrow keys, as well as highlighted new technology that USPS could use to limit the risk of mail theft, such as electronic keypads and fingerprint readers.
Monitoring USPS’s Progress
We are monitoring USPS as it rolls out initiatives to combat mail theft both nationwide and locally in areas that have seen increased mail theft. We have found opportunities for improvement, including the management and timeliness of installing new technology and the tracking and management of keys, handheld scanners, and collection and cluster boxes.
