Mail theft is increasing across the country, including in Kentucky. There are steps you can take to reduce the risk.
Kentucky U.S. Postal Inspector Jeff Sagrecy advises not to leave mail in your home mailbox overnight. Retrieve it as soon as possible after delivery. For outgoing mail, raising the red flag on your mailbox signals the mail carrier, but it also alerts potential thieves.
Often, if you leave outgoing mail in your box with the flag down, the carrier will still pick it up. You can also leave a note for the carrier, Sagrecy said.
Although thefts can still happen at post offices, Sagrecy said using a mail slot at the post office is much safer. He mentioned that theft activity can fluctuate throughout the year.
The risk of theft increases when outgoing mail is left in the box for a long time.
Try to avoid putting outgoing mail in your mailbox until the day it’s picked up. If possible, wait until the mail carrier is in your neighborhood before placing mail in the box. The closer to pick-up time, the safer your mail will be, Sagrecy advised.
He also noted that mail theft can be more common at certain times, like at the beginning of the month when rent checks are sent out. If using a blue collection box, Sagrecy stressed the importance of dropping mail during posted hours.
If you become a victim of mail theft, Sagrecy recommends reporting it to the Postal Service at USPIS.gov or by calling 877-876-2455.
