Expands the main menu

Audit Reports

  • Mail Theft Mitigation and Response Houston Tx
Mar
20
2025
Report Number:
25-023-R25
Report Type:
Audit Reports
Category: Service Performance

Mail Theft Mitigation and Response: Houston, TX

This report presents the results of our audit of Mail Theft Mitigation and Response at the Beechnut, Debora Sue Schatz, and T W House Stations in Houston, TX (Project Number 25-023). The stations are in Texas 2 District of the Retail and Delivery Operations, Southern Area. Our objective was to assess the U.S. Postal Service’s actions taken to mitigate and respond to mail theft in Houston, TX. This is one of a series of mail theft audits across the Postal Service.

The Postal Service’s mission is to provide the nation with trusted, safe, and secure mail services, including the more than 438.5 million pieces of mail processed in Houston, TX, in fiscal year (FY) 2024. 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 (CBU), 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 earn the public’s trust.

Concerns about how the Postal Service prevents and responds to mail theft frequently appear in the media, and they have been a topic for congressional hearings  and inquiries sent to the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (OIG). News articles  have also highlighted theft in the Houston area from blue collection boxes and cluster box units, which included customers’ identity documents and checks.

Report Recommendations

# Recommendation Status Value Initial Management Response USPS Proposed Resolution OIG Response Final Resolution
1

Develop a verification process to ensure all electronic arrow lock and high security collection box shipments, deliveries, and installations are accurately recorded.

 Open $0 Agree
2

Develop a standard operating procedure outlining steps for station management on how to generate maintenance requests for electronic arrow lock and high security collection box installations.

 Open $0 Disagree
3

Confirm all arrow keys are accurately recorded in the Retail and Delivery Analytics and Reports system and, when necessary, returned to the National Materials Customer Service, and/or reported to the Postal Inspection Service for the Beechnut, Debora Sue Schatz, and T W House Stations.

 Open $0 Agree
4

Establish internal controls to verify facilities are following the 24-hour arrow key accountability process, including the establishment of barcodes for every key assigned to city routes at Tier 1 facilities, or using the PS Form 1106, as required.

 Open $0 Agree
5

Provide regularly recurring training on arrow key accountability processes, security policies, and responsibilities to managers and supervisors in the Houston, TX, area, and track training compliance.

 Open $0 Agree
6

Provide training on registry cage security policies and responsibilities to managers and supervisors in the Houston, TX, area, and track training compliance.

 Open $0 Agree
7

Establish internal controls to validate that facilities are remediating arrow key deficiencies identified by the Postal Inspection Service.

 Open $0 Agree
8

Revise Postal Operation-631 Growth and Delivery Point Management Program policy to update current roles and responsibilities.

 Open $0 Agree
9

Some or all of the recommendation is not publicly available due to concerns with information protected under the Freedom of Information Act.

 Open $0 Agree
10

Address the box deficiencies identified at the Beechnut, Debora Sue Schatz, and T W House Stations.

 Open $0 Agree
11

Require the Texas 2 District Manager to establish and provide regularly recurring training to station management on the requirement to complete annual safety inspections, remediate deficiencies, and document the results for the blue collection boxes and cluster box units, and track training compliance.

 Open $0 Agree