Downtown Visalia post office collection boxes vandalized, postal inspectors ask public for leads

Visalia residents may have noticed the Acequia post office shuttered its exterior blue collection boxes, meaning you'll have to walk into the building to drop off mail.

Large bins were placed over the deposit slots, preventing residents from placing outgoing mail inside the iconic blue boxes. A massage was taped on the bins: "Out of service."

Alongside the out of service message were signs warning people not to use the collection boxes because mail would be stolen.

Incidents of letter carrier robberies and mail theft are on the rise across the nation, according to United States Postal Service. Visalia residents are no stranger to these types of crimes.

Postal Inspector Jeff Fitch said the Visalia postmaster and United States Postal Inspection Service are aware the boxes were vandalized. Visalia Police Department has also been notified, according to Fitch.

Security upgrades are planned for the downtown post office, but Fitch couldn't release details about the upgrades or when installation would occur.

In the meantime, United States Postal Inspection Service urges residents to report any information regarding the vandalism or any incidents of mail theft - which remains a federal crime.

"The key is reporting. That makes all the difference," Fitch said. "This is something we take very seriously."

There is a $10,000 reward for the tip that leads to an arrest and conviction.

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

Protecting the nation's mail

USPS and its inspection service are working to protect the nation’s mail and packages against theft.

“We’re doubling down on our efforts to protect our postal employees and the security of the mail," said Postal Inspection Service Chief Gary Barksdale. "We are hardening targets – both physical and digital – to make them less desirable to thieves and working with our law enforcement partners to bring perpetrators to justice.”

In fiscal year 2022, 412 letter carriers were robbed on the job. With 305 incidents reported in the first half of fiscal year 2023, these incidents are "increasingly more prevalent," USPS officials stated.

The agency also reported an increase in high volume mail theft incidents from mail receptacles including blue collection boxes: 38,500 in 2022 and more than 25,000 in the first half of 2023.

In response to these ongoing issues, USPS expanded its Project Safe Delivery crime prevention initiative. Expanded project actions include:

• Reducing letter carrier robberies and mail theft – As part of Project Safe Delivery, USPS and USPIS are taking action to harden physical targets against criminal activity and reduce criminal acts against postal employees including:

  • 12,000 high security blue collection boxes to be installed nationwide. USPS is hardening blue collection boxes making access to their contents more difficult for criminals. These boxes are now being deployed in high security risk areas through the next fiscal year. The postal service will continue to evaluate replacing additional existing blue collection boxes with these enhanced boxes.

  • 49,000 electronic locks to replace antiquated arrow locks. There has been an increase in letter carrier robberies nationwide where criminals are targeting letter carriers for their Arrow and Modified Arrow Lock (MAL) Keys. Criminals use Arrow and MAL keys to steal mail from secure mail receptacles to commit financial crimes, including altering checks to commit check fraud. USPS will replace 49,000 antiquated arrow locks with electronic locks. New locks have been installed in select cities with installation to occur in additional major metropolitan areas soon. The agency is also increasing Arrow Key accountability reviews in some high postal crime areas.

Postal Inspection Service will continue to partner with federal, state, and local authorities to enforce the laws and "bring criminals to justice," postal service officials stated.

The penalty for mail theft is up to five years in federal prison and up to a $250,000 fine.

Residents can take 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 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.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Downtown Visalia post office collection boxes vandalized