Post office to install high-security mailboxes to prevent theft

CHARLOTTE — The U.S. Postal Service is cracking down on mail theft.

The Carolina Esports Hub operates alongside dozens of businesses at the South End Business Park off Clanton Road in south Charlotte.

Rick Suarez, who is associated with the esports business, and others around him said they are fed up with mail theft.

“We had a sponsor write a $100,000 check that we never received and then Bank of America called us,” he said.

Someone washed the check, wrote their name on it, and tried to deposit it into a personal account, Suarez said.

Suarez said they got the money back after a difficult process.

“It was a big pain in the butt,” Suarez said. “Just the brazenness of someone doing that.”

People from other businesses said they are fed up, too.

Thieves will get arrow keys, which can open mailboxes that are clustered together.

The U.S. Postal Service said a single for multiple cluster mailboxes may not be the best idea so it plans to eventually switch to electronic locks.

The Postal Service announced last week that 49,000 electronic locks will replace the arrow locks nationwide.

It’s also installing 12,000 high-security collection boxes.

*Customers can take several steps to protect their mail and their letter carriers, including:

Don’t let incoming or outgoing mail sit in your mailbox. You can significantly reduce the chance of being victimized by simply removing your mail from your mailbox every day.
Deposit outgoing mail through a number of secure manners including inside your local Post Office or at your place of business or by handing it to a letter carrier.
Sign up for Informed Delivery and get daily digest emails that preview your mail and packages scheduled to arrive soon.
Become involved and engaged in your neighborhood via neighborhood watches and local social media groups to spread awareness and share information.
Keep an eye out for your letter carrier. If you see something that looks suspicious, or you see someone following your carrier, call 911.

*USPS

Customers are encouraged to report stolen mail as soon as possible by submitting an online complaint to the Postal Inspection Service at www.uspis.gov/report or by calling 877-876-2455.

VIDEO: USPS unveils plan to crack down on mail theft