Queens, NY – A federal investigation into the surge of mail theft in Queens is now underway, thanks to U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens). This audit, led by the United States Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General, follows Meng’s push for a probe.
“The increase in mail theft continues to plague many local residents here in Queens which is why I’m glad that this audit is now underway,” Meng said. “Hopefully, it will provide answers on how the Postal Service has handled the problem in our borough and whether more can be done to address it. I thank the Office of Inspector General for agreeing to my request for this probe and look forward to its findings.”
The Office of Inspector General is tasked with evaluating the Postal Service’s response to the rampant mail theft plaguing Queens. This marks the first time such a thorough investigation into the borough’s mail security has been conducted.
Warren Schreiber, President of the Queens Civic Congress, which represents over 100 civic organizations, emphasized the far-reaching consequences of mail theft.
“Mail theft can lead to identity and financial theft, compromising personal data and disrupting essential deliveries,” said Schreiber. “This crime damages trust in postal services and has long-lasting impacts on victims. I thank Congresswoman Meng for her interest in this vital issue and look forward to the audit.”
A Time Magazine report showed that mail theft is on the rise and explained why. In their report they cited data that illustrated the rise in U.S. Postal Inspection Service serious crime cases. There were 1,198 cases in 2023 when compared to 656 in 2017, with a steady rise during the years in between.
The need for enhanced security measures was highlighted by the National Association of Postal Supervisors (NAPS) in a December 2021 plea to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. NAPS President Ivan D. Butts urged the return of Postal Police Officers to the streets, citing an alarming increase in crimes against postal employees. The directive in 2020 had limited Postal Police from providing patrol coverage along carrier routes, a policy NAPS believes needs reversal to ensure the safety of postal workers and the mail.
Furthermore, a bipartisan proposal, The Postal Police Reform Act of 2021, aims to standardize the law enforcement duties of postal police officers, a move supported by postal police and supervisors alike.
In a separate but related incident, a Brooklyn postal worker, Dendrick Emery, was arrested in June for grand larceny, accused of stealing over $6,000 in checks from the mail. This case, investigated by the USPS OIG and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, underscores the ongoing issues within the postal system.
Read the story on LITrueCrime.com here.
