A Short Primer on Mailbox Vandalism/Mail Theft
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is the federal law enforcement and security arm of the U.S. Postal
Service (see www.usps.com/postalinspectors). I called our local Sandy USPS office at 801-453-0336, to
get clarification on what exactly was illegal, after finding some of the information online to be confusing
(especially articles about ‘is it illegal to put stuff in mailboxes?’). The postal worker whom I spoke to
confirmed that it is indeed illegal for anyone to put things into mailboxes that haven’t proper postage
(or to remove things, unless you’re the property owner).
If residents have business people leaving flyers in their mail box to advertise their
business/services/products or friends, neighbors, volunteers announcing food drives, neighborhood
walkabouts, whatever, they can call the number above (for Sandy/Granite residents) and ask them to
contact the miscreants (particularly if there is a phone number left on the flyer). The USPS will do so and
advise them not to continue to do this; if they do continue (and you report it), they will be reported to
the U.S. Postal Inspectors who will investigate and charge them. Usually they cease and desist before
the latter step is necessary.
I found the following articles online on USPS webpages.
Mary Young
PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM MAILBOX VANDALISM
Rural area mailboxes are vulnerable to vandalism because they are usually isolated, located on public
thoroughfares, and frequently not visible to the box owners from their homes. City residential mailboxes
are vandalized to a lesser degree.
Mailboxes are considered federal property, and federal law (Title 18, United States Code, Section 1705),
makes it a crime to vandalize them (or to injure, deface or destroy any mail deposited in them). Violators
can be fined up to $250,000, or imprisoned for up to three years, for each act of vandalism.
Postal Inspectors recommend these actions to protect your mailbox and any mail that may be inside it:
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Immediately report theft, tampering, or destruction of mail or mailboxes to your Postmaster. Or
click here to report it to the Postal Inspectors online, or call 1-877-876-2455 (press 5).
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Obtain Label 33 from the Postal Inspection Service and affix it to your mailbox. The sticker warns
that willful damage to mailboxes and theft of mail are crimes.
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Keep your mailbox in good repair, and make sure it’s properly installed. This may help prevent
theft of the mailbox itself.
If you have information on mailbox vandalism, call the Postal Inspection Service to report it. Your
cooperation helps apprehend violators. You may provide your information or complaints to your local
postmaster or your nearest Postal Inspector.
http://about.usps.com/news/state-releases/ca/2009/ca_2009_1130.htm:
How to Protect Against Mail Thieves
Release No. SF09-058
EUREKA, CA — Every day, the U.S. Postal Service safely and efficiently delivers millions of
checks, money orders, credit cards and other valuable items. Unfortunately, such items of value
are also attractive to thieves, especially around the holidays.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has the following tips to help protect your mail from thieves:
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Never send cash or coins in the mail. Use checks or money orders.
Promptly remove mail from your mailbox after delivery, especially if you're expecting checks,
credit cards, or other negotiable items. If you won't be home when the items are expected, ask
a trusted friend or neighbor to pick up your mail.
Have your local Post Office hold your mail while you're on vacation or absent from your home
for a long period of time.
If you don't receive a check or other valuable mail you're expecting, contact the issuing agency
immediately.
If you change your address, immediately notify your Post Office and anyone with whom you do
business via the mail.
Always deposit your mail in a mail slot at your local Post Office, a blue collection box or hand it
to your letter carrier.
Consider starting a neighborhood watch program. By exchanging work and vacation schedules
with trusted friends and neighbors, you can watch each other's mailboxes (as well as homes).
If you observe a mail thief at work, call the local police immediately, and then call the U.S. Postal
Inspection Service at 877-876-2455.
If you believe your mail was stolen, report it immediately to your local postmaster or nearest
Postal Inspector. You'll be asked to file a formal complaint using PS Form 2016, Mail Theft and
Vandalism Complaint, which is available on the U.S. Postal Inspection website
(https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov). By analyzing information collected from the form, Postal
Inspectors may determine whether your problem is isolated or part of a larger mail theft problem
in your neighborhood--and it may help Postal Inspectors locate and apprehend the thieves.
Consult with your local postmaster for the most up-to-date regulations on mailboxes, including
the availability of locked centralized or curbside mailboxes.