The Postal Inspection Service is on a mission to keep safe the billions of mailpieces expected to travel by way of USPS this holiday season.
To support this effort, the law enforcement agency has introduced a Holiday Readiness website with resources to deter package theft, including these six tips:
• Don’t leave delivered mail and packages unattended. Mail and packages should not be left uncollected on porches or in mailboxes for any length of time.
• Going out of town? Hold mail at the local Post Office. Customers planning on being away from home are encouraged to take advantage of the USPS Hold Mail service.
• Plan ahead. Ship using Hold for Pick Up. Customers either sending or receiving packages can have those items held at the destination Post Office for pickup.
• Customize the delivery. Package recipients can have their carrier leave the parcel in a specified location.
• Secure the shipment using USPS Special Services. Services such as Signature Confirmation and Registered Mail ensure the mailpiece ends up in the right hands.
• Monitor your front door. If you have a camera security system, make sure it captures activity at your front door and mailbox.
To spread the word, the Inspection Service is releasing six video public service announcements, each focused on one of these tips. The PSAs are available on the agency’s YouTube channel.
Contact information for the Inspection Service is also available on the site.
If customers notice an unfamiliar vehicle following a USPS vehicle or unknown persons loitering around mailboxes, they should call their local police department immediately and then call the Inspection Service at 877-876-2455.
Anyone who feels they are a victim of a crime involving the mail may submit an online complaint at USPIS.gov/report.
