Thieves submit a fraudulent Change of Address request to your mail carrier and re-route your mailing. Someone takes your credit card invoice. Once such mail has been stolen, the identity thief can use its details to pay for goods and services.

Can identity theft occur when someone steals your mail?

Your mail can be a valuable target for identity thieves. What is mail theft? Mail theft is a felony that occurs when someone steals, takes, or abstracts your mail. Mail thieves can mine your mail for cash and checks, and also to obtain personal information that can be used to commit identity theft.

Why does my daughter keep stealing?

Their behavior may reflect stress at home, school, or with friends. Some may steal as a cry for help because of emotional or physical abuse they’re enduring. In other cases, kids and teens steal because they can’t afford to pay for what they need or want — for example, they may steal to get popular name-brand items.

What should you do if you know someone who steals?

call the police. The police will get your stuff back to you if there’s solid evidence that the person stole the item. For lower value items, not much will be done by police. You’d likely have to handle it yourself, possibly with a fight taking place.

Who investigates stolen mail?

The United States Postal Inspection Service
The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) investigates: Mail Theft.

What to do if you think your mail has been stolen?

The United States Postal Inspection Service is responsible for investigating all mail theft. Notify them immediately if you know your mail is stolen. To report your mail theft online, use this USPIS Contact Form.

How to report an incident of mail theft?

You may also visit the U.S. Postal Inspection Service website for additional tips to protect your mail. You may report an incident of Vandalism* to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service by submitting a vandalism complaint online or by phone at 1-877-876-2455 to report mail theft or a vandalism incident.

How often do postal inspectors investigate mail theft?

Postal Inspectors investigate these crimes and arrest thousands of mail and package thieves each year. Still, there are extra steps you can take to ensure your mail arrives safely at its destination. Follow and share these tips to help protect yourself and others against mail and package theft.

How often is mail stolen from the USPS?

Each year, Americans trust the U.S. Postal Service ® with billions of letters and packages, and the vast majority of those arrive safely at their intended destinations. But there are always thieves who will target the mail. Postal Inspectors investigate these crimes and arrest thousands of mail and package thieves each year.