How mail theft occurs—and how to prevent it

Although most mail theft occurs in major metropolitan areas like New York, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C., it can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time- and most people don’t see it coming until it’s already occurred.

In this guide, we’ll break down:

How mail theft occurs

How mail theft often leads to identity theft

How to prevent mail theft from happening to you

What to do if you’ve already become a victim of mail theft

How does mail theft happen?

Mail theft ranges from fishing mail to porch piracy, all the way up to mailbox break-ins. Perpetrators range from opportunistic thieves to sophisticated scammers who can destroy your credit for years to come.

Over the past few years, there’s been an observable rise in mail and porch piracy. The USPS reported that in six of their major delivery divisions, the locations of 89% of reported mail thefts, the Postal Inspection Service received 299,020 mail theft complaints, an increase of 161% compared to the same period the previous year.

The more accessible your mail is, the easier of a target you are. Letting packages linger at your door, or sensitive mail in an unlocked mailbox leaves you vulnerable to mail theft

Mail theft often leads to identity theft

The primary goal of most mail thieves is identity theft. While much of identity theft occurs online, your mailbox and its contents (checks, bills, etc.) are still a place thieves look. Once in possession of your identity, thieves will use it to commit fraud with information like your social security number, credit card, and bank account information. Some may even trade your information to others who may use it to commit more serious crimes.

How to prevent sensitive mail theft before it occurs

Don’t let your mail linger. Pick up packages from your front door right away when they are delivered to lessen the chances of it getting stolen off your porch.

Don’t send sensitive mail from your mailbox. Sending important, outgoing mail like bills and checks from your mailbox, especially if yours doesn’t lock, is always risky. Instead, drop off your mail directly at the post office, or at a secure USPS mailbox location.

Get a locking mailbox. A good locking mailbox will keep your mail safely inside locked compartments until you retrieve it. Great ones will also resist attempts like vandalism, damage, fishing, and break-ins.

Keep close track of your deliveries when possible. Tracking your deliveries closely means you’re more likely to notice right away when something’s gone wrong, or something’s missing.

Pick up packages from alternate locations. If you feel that your packages are at risk of being stolen, consider having them delivered to an alternate destination, like a package locker, or have the post office hold them for you to pick up here instead.

This isn't just hypothetical- It’s exactly what happened to us. It’s why we created Mail Boss. In our experience, the most effective way to prevent mail theft from happening in the first place is to simply use a high-security locking mailbox. We design mailboxes that provide secure and reliable protection from vandals, theft and adverse weather.

What to do if you believe your identity’s been stolen

If you believe your identity’s already been stolen, you’ll need to report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Being a victim of identity theft can understandably feel overwhelming when it occurs. Visit consumer.ftc.gov for step-by-step plans, advice, and forms to help you move forward.

You can change your Social Security Number as a last resort. According to The Consumerist, in an answer to a reader's question, there are circumstances in which you may be able to change your Social Security Number:

You need to show proof that 1) you’ve suffered harm from someone misusing your SS# and 2) you’ve made all reasonable efforts to otherwise solve the problem i.e. credit report freezes, closing accounts and changing account numbers, etc. If both of these apply, then you can simply visit your local SSA office, call, or visit www.ssa.gov.