Inside job? Tri-State postal workers accused of mail and key theft
Your mailbox holds all kinds of important and sensitive Information from new credit cards to tax refund checks.
7 On Your Side Investigates reported on an increase in criminals robbing and stealing mailbox keys from postal works to get your mail.
Now, we're learning of new cases where postal workers themselves are accused of taking part in the crimes.
They're called arrow keys. They're universal postal keys that can open any mailbox in a given zip code - from an entire panel of them inside an apartment building to the large blue and green metal boxes that line the sidewalk.
"It's becoming like a nightmare," said Chima, a mother from Queens who had her new driver's license stolen from her mailbox.
"Day after day they're doing something like they're opening a bank account, they're opening a credit card," said Chima.
7 On Your Side Investigates discovered in some cases the letter carriers are accused of being in on the crimes.
Eyewitness News filed public records requests with the USPS and found the inspector general has investigated 17 cases in the tri-state over the past four years of employees stealing or losing their postal keys.
In Norwalk Connecticut, records show postal workers suspected one of their own of stealing a key to steal mail earlier this year. Inspector general reports show they identified the worker on video.
In Cherry Hill, New Jersey, a missing key led inspectors to a letter carrier's personal car where reports show they found tubs and bags "filled with mail" while customers complained of missing passports and election ballots.
In Brooklyn, a federal investigation revealed a USPS worker stole credit cards and checks form her route and "admitted to stealing a key and selling it."
It's not just missing keys they're investigating. The inspector general opened more than 800 investigations into mail theft by postal workers in our area over the past few years. Everything from missing letters to credit cards to atm cards.
A majority of the cases, close to 500 of them, are from New York. New Jersey had more than 260 cases and Connecticut had 62 cases.
In a statement the USPS said it "...has a long tradition of protecting the sanctity" of the mail system. They said when they investigate "...administrative actions, including removal, are up to the decision of postal services management. In addition to losing their jobs, many offenders are prosecuted in the criminal court system."
"We can root those folks out and deter other folks who are engaging in that kind of activity," said Representative Laura Gillen.
Numerous lawmakers, like Rep. Gillen, have filed bi-partisan legislation to increase postal protections and punishments for offenders inside and outside of the agency, but the legislation hasn't passed yet.
"With a big organization like the US Postal Service you're going to have some bad actors like you would in any big organization and those people should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and that's what we have to make sure is happening," said Rep. Gillen.
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