Cluster mailboxes across the country are becoming targets for thieves, and postal workers say they’re being attacked for the master keys that open them.
SAN ANTONIO — Cluster mailboxes across the country are becoming targets for organized crime groups, and postal workers say they’re being attacked for the master keys that open them. In August, San Antonio police arrested two men accused of stealing mail.
They found two counterfeit arrow keys, likely used to access cluster mailboxes.In that incident, officers reported finding a stack of driver's licenses and credit cards wrapped in a rubber band while making an arrest. The suspect claimed he found them all, but officers discovered an arrow key in one of his pockets.Police realized these keys were often used for mail theft and notified the U.S. Postal Service, so their law enforcement arm could investigate. Across the country, police are making discoveries like these, and criminals are getting bolder in how they obtain arrow keys. Homer Hernandez, the president of the National Association of Letter Carriers Alamo Branch 421, stated that carriers have been robbed of their keys in San Antonio.We asked Hernandez what protections were in place for mail carriers when they're placed in these situations.According to the Government Accountability Office , postal inspectors are working onin areas where robberies and other serious crimes have increased, surging resources into those areas to disrupt and prevent crimes. But many arrow keys are already in circulation. Experts say they're being traded between cities and even sold on the dark web. “The criminals started wearing USPS uniforms and opened the mailboxes in the middle of the day,” said David Maimon, who has been studying arrow key theft for several years. “Prices range from $1,000 to $7,000. The price depends on the location, how many mailboxes it can open, and the population.” Maimon says these aren't teens getting into trouble; it's organized crime groups looking to get access to people's identifying information and their checks. "They are looking for those checks in order to then wash them and then use them to steal money from victims' accounts," Maimon explained. "Stealing identities, setting up bank accounts using those identities, and cashing the checks. It's a very detailed and elaborate operation." As postal workers nationwide continue to report arrow key theft, we asked Hernandez what his advice is for the carriers in his union. “Give them the key,” he said. “Your life is more important than any arrow key, any piece of mail, or any package.” In 2023, the U.S. Postal Service announced plans to replace about 49,000 arrow key locks with electronic versions to help deter theft. Hernandez said that hasn’t happened in San Antonio.District 7 Councilmember Marina Alderete Gavito said her office is exploring ways to add more lighting and possibly replace cluster mailboxes altogether. “Even though it’s a federal issue, we’re trying to help them out locally to deter this crime,” she said. District 8's Ivalis Meza Gonzalez is also working on a program to help neighborhoods replace their cluster mailboxes so they can have more peace of mind.In August 2024, three Fort Worth men were“These defendants brazenly robbed a U.S.P.S. letter carrier at gunpoint in pursuit of an arrow key that would allow them to steal mail from collection boxes,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. The GAO is working with the Postal Service's inspection arm to improve law enforcement resources and the needs of post offices.online or by calling 877–876–2455. It's also recommended to contact your local police and, if your mail is stolen from a USPS-owned mailbox, notify your local post office.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Will the government shutdown impact California’s election on Prop. 50?U.S. Postal Service operations are not interrupted because of a government shutdown, the agency says.
Read more »
Des Plaines community honors beloved letter carrier retiring after nearly 40 yearsIn Des Plaines, neither rain nor sleet nor snow could stop this tight-knit community from taking time out from their busy lives to honor their longtime letter carrier, Gary Connor, as he retires after spending nearly 40 years at the Postal Service.
Read more »
Postal workers attacked for master mailbox keys, thieves targeting your informationCluster mailboxes across the country are becoming targets for thieves, and postal workers say they’re being attacked for the master keys that open them
Read more »
Postal workers attacked for master mailbox keys, thieves targeting your informationCluster mailboxes across the country are becoming targets for thieves, and postal workers say they’re being attacked for the master keys that open them.
Read more »
Organized Crime Targets Cluster Mailboxes: Postal Workers at RiskAcross the United States, cluster mailboxes are becoming a target for organized crime, leading to attacks on postal workers for the master keys. This report details the increasing prevalence of mail theft, the methods employed by criminals, and the responses from law enforcement and the U.S. Postal Service. From counterfeit keys to stolen identities, the problem is widespread, and poses a growing threat to public safety.
Read more »
Postal workers attacked for master mailbox keys, thieves targeting your informationCluster mailboxes across the country are becoming targets for thieves, and postal workers say they’re being attacked for the master keys that open them.
Read more »