Mail theft is investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the federal law enforcement arm of the Postal Service. You can file a report at mailtheft.uspis.gov or by calling 1-877-876-2455. Two other agencies handle related situations: local police take reports on mailbox vandalism and any identity theft that follows, and the USPS Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigates when a postal employee is the suspect. Knowing which door to knock on first is the difference between a case that moves and one that sits.
USPIS Is the Federal Agency With Jurisdiction
USPIS inspectors are federal law enforcement officers. They carry badges, make arrests, and serve warrants. Their jurisdiction covers anything in USPS custody or sitting in a mailbox, collection box, or other designated mail receptacle, from the moment a piece enters the postal stream until it reaches the recipient. Letters, postcards, and packages all fall under that umbrella.
Taking mail that isn’t yours is a federal felony under 18 U.S.C. § 1708, punishable by up to five years in prison and fines up to $250,000.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 1708 – Theft or Receipt of Stolen Mail Matter Generally2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 3571 – Sentence of Fine The statute reaches past the person who physically grabs an envelope. Buying or knowingly possessing stolen mail carries the same penalty, which is how prosecutors pursue fencing operations and organized theft rings. USPIS uses forensic labs, digital evidence teams, and surveillance to build these cases and refers them to federal prosecutors.
When Local Police Are the Right Call
Local police cannot prosecute federal mail theft, but they own the crimes that often ride alongside it. Smashing a mailbox is itself a federal offense under 18 U.S.C. § 1705, carrying up to three years in prison.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 1705 – Destruction of Letter Boxes or Mail It can also trigger state vandalism or trespassing charges that local prosecutors handle on their own. If someone came onto your property or damaged your mailbox, call your local police department’s non-emergency line and get a report on file.
That local report matters for reasons beyond charges. Insurance companies usually require one before processing a property damage claim. And if the stolen mail contained checks, credit cards, or documents with your Social Security number, local detectives handle the resulting identity theft and fraud investigations. They share evidence with USPIS, so the two investigations run in parallel.
When a Postal Employee Is the Suspect
If a USPS employee is stealing mail, jurisdiction shifts from USPIS to the USPS Office of Inspector General. The OIG investigates fraud and misconduct inside the Postal Service, including carriers or clerks who pocket items from the mail stream.4Office of Inspector General OIG – USPS OIG. Mail Theft
The OIG uses analytics tools to pinpoint where in the postal network mail is disappearing, which helps identify individual employees and any outside accomplices. Its investigations have also exposed weaknesses around “arrow keys,” the universal keys carriers use to open collection boxes and cluster mailboxes. A single stolen arrow key can unlock hundreds of mailboxes, and the OIG has recommended replacing traditional locks with electronic keypads and fingerprint readers in high-theft areas.4Office of Inspector General OIG – USPS OIG. Mail Theft
Complaints about a suspected postal employee can be filed at uspsoig.gov. If you aren’t sure whether the thief is an employee or an outsider, file with USPIS anyway and let the agencies sort jurisdiction between themselves.
If the Package Came From FedEx, UPS, or Amazon
USPIS investigates theft of mail handled by the Postal Service only. If your package was delivered by FedEx, UPS, or Amazon, USPIS is not the agency to call. There is no federal felony charge for stealing a private carrier’s package off a porch, though state theft laws still apply and local police can take the report. Recovery of the item itself runs through each carrier’s own claims process, with filing windows generally between 21 and 60 days depending on the carrier.5FedEx. What To Do About Stolen Packages6UPS. File a Claim
How to File a Mail Theft Report With USPIS
The fastest route is the online portal at mailtheft.uspis.gov. The site walks you through what happened, when it happened, and what was taken, and it lets you upload photos and video. When you submit, a confirmation screen shows your unique case number. Print or screenshot that page. You’ll need the case number to check on the investigation and to support any insurance claim.7United States Postal Inspection Service. Report a Crime
If you’d rather not file online, call 1-877-876-2455. For emergencies involving mail bombs or hazardous substances, use the same number and say “Emergency” when prompted.7United States Postal Inspection Service. Report a Crime
Once you submit, a postal inspector reviews the file and decides whether there’s enough to open a full investigation. Response times depend on the severity of the theft and the caseload in your area. If the inspector needs more information, they will contact you directly. Organized rings and cases involving financial fraud draw priority attention; a single missing card may not get the same resources.
What to Have Ready Before You File
A well-documented report is far more likely to lead to an investigation than a vague one. Before you open the portal, gather what you can:
- Tracking numbers for any missing packages, pulled from the shipping confirmation email or the sender’s notification.
- The window of time between when you last checked your mailbox and when you noticed the theft. A narrow window helps inspectors correlate your case with nearby reports.
- A description of what was taken, including the sender’s name, expected contents, and approximate value. For packages, note the carrier and any delivery confirmation details.
- Visual evidence: photos of a damaged or pried-open mailbox, clips from a doorbell or security camera, and screenshots of delivery confirmations.
- A list of any financial items in the mail, such as checks, credit cards, tax documents, or bank statements. This helps both the investigation and your own fraud recovery.
If insured or registered mail was stolen, you’ll also need the original mailing receipt and proof of value to file an indemnity claim with USPS. Acceptable proof includes a sales receipt, invoice, credit card statement, or a printout of the online transaction.8Postal Explorer. Filing Indemnity Claims for Loss or Damage Hold onto the outer packaging too. USPS may ask to inspect damaged packaging at your local post office during the claims process.
Protect Yourself While the Investigation Runs
Filing the report is step one. Protecting yourself from the fallout is just as urgent, because a stolen bank statement or pre-approved credit offer can be turned against you within days.
Freeze Your Credit
Contact all three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, and request a security freeze. This blocks anyone from opening new credit accounts in your name. The freeze is free. If you request it online or by phone, the bureau must process it within one business day. When you need to apply for credit yourself, you can lift the freeze temporarily, and online or phone lift requests take effect within one hour.9USAGov. How to Place or Lift a Security Freeze on Your Credit Report
Report Identity Theft to the FTC
If any stolen mail contained personal identifying information, file a report at IdentityTheft.gov or call 1-877-438-4338. The site generates a personalized Identity Theft Report and recovery plan based on your situation. That report is an official record you can show to creditors, banks, and law enforcement.10Federal Trade Commission. Identity Theft Recovery Steps If you file without creating an account, print your report and recovery plan before leaving the page. You won’t be able to get back to them.
Call Your Bank About Stolen Checks
Stolen checks are one of the most common consequences of mail theft. If a thief forges the payee’s signature and cashes a check, you are generally not on the hook. Contact your bank or credit union immediately to report it.11Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. I Wrote a Check, but It Was Stolen and Cashed by the Thief. What Can I Do? One important exception: if you signed a blank check without filling in the recipient’s name and someone fills in their own name and cashes it, you typically cannot recover that money. If a signed blank check goes missing, place a stop payment on it right away.