“When a robbery does occur, it receives the highest level of response and attention. “Protecting USPS employees is part of the core mission of the USPIS,” Torres said. Postal Inspector as part of the criminal complaint into the mail-theft ring. In the last five years, the number of USPS employees “assaulted and murdered” to steal arrow keys “has increased dramatically,” according to an affidavit from a U.S. In that case, the letter carrier said two men demanded he “give up the key.” This growing nationwide fraud often involves selling stolen checks to criminal organizations around the country on apps like Telegram and CashApp, depositing them into bank accounts opened with stolen identities, according to court records. At the time, a $150,000 reward was offered for information leading to an arrest.

Investigators found more than a dozen weapons - including 11 semi-automatic rifles - stolen personal and business checks, and an arrow key linked to the robbery of a letter carrier in Leander this month, according to federal court records obtained by KXAN. Last week, the USPIS busted a mail-theft ring in Austin. “However, at this time, no additional information related to this investigation is available for public release due to its ongoing status.” “Postal inspectors are currently investigating this case and will work closely with our local law enforcement partners and combine our resources to better investigate these crimes,” Torres said. Postal Inspection Service - the federal law enforcement arm of the USPS - said it is “aware of reports of mail theft” in this neighborhood. “We’ve asked what’s their plan to rectify this,” he said. He said he tried asking what the USPS is doing to stop this from happening but didn’t an answer. Gene suspects his mail was also stolen and said he is “very” concerned by the recent thefts. It just goes on and on,” said Gene, who also asked us not to use his last name. “Members of our community have had mail stolen, packages stolen, important legal documents, personal information, passports. (KXAN Photo/Matt Grant) Papers to passports stolen Mail theft ring tied to USPS mail carrier robberies busted in AustinĪ US Postal Inspection Service warning sticker next to an arrow key lock. It suggests there are multiple universal mail keys, or copies, that are not in USPS control. Surveillance videos show the neighborhood has been targeted at least four times since last year, most recently in October. “It makes us think twice, certainly, about dropping off mail here at our mailbox,” he said. He asked KXAN not to use his last name or say where the area was out of fear for his safety. Not great at all,” said Todd, a homeowner, whose mail was stolen. By using stolen USPS master keys - also called “arrow” or “universal” keys - crooks are able to unlock multiple mailboxes at once. In one southwest Austin community, surveillance video captured criminals stealing mail with ease. “Those eagerly awaited packages are, unfortunately, also attractive to thieves.”

Postal Inspector and Public Information Officer Silvia Torres. “We are currently in the middle of the holiday shopping season, which means additional packages will be delivered” in the coming days, said U.S. Postal Service - and thieves are taking advantage.

She added the Postal Service plans to replace the master keys it labels 'antiquated' with electronic locks at nearly 50,000 cluster mailboxes around the U.S.AUSTIN (KXAN) - It’s the busiest time of year for the U.S. I know the customers want immediate action and we are acting.'Īlvarez points to the Postal Inspection Service's work with Delray Beach police in the recent arrest of five men charged with robbing mailboxes with a stolen master key and check washing. 'I can't go into detail, but we're doing things like trying to change the locks. Postal Inspection Service fraud investigator Blanca Alvarez said. 'I know people are frustrated with the key system, and we do know that sometimes it has been a problem, but we have done things to prevent the mail from being stolen from that master key system,' U.S. He also believes postal carriers should bring the mail directly to businesses and do away with the cluster mailboxes. Jimmy Sitton/WPTV Bob MacDonald the CEO of Omni Telecommunication shares how he has watched videos of mail being stolen from mailbox clusters.

Usps master key stolen