What can you do if someone is taking your mail?

Report suspected mail losses to Postal Inspectors by calling 877-876-2455 or at www.uspis.gov. Keep Registered Mail separate from other mail. Require employees to sign for Registered Mail™ to establish accountability.
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What can I do about someone stealing my mail?

If you suspect your mail was stolen

If you think your mail has been stolen, notify the Postal Inspector at 877-876-2455 or at the USPS Office of the Inspector General website at uspsoig.gov/investigations. It's also best to file a claim as quickly as possible. In some cases, the USPS can trace a stolen gift card.
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What do you do if you suspect mail tampering?

. Report mail theft to police and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 800-275-8777 (not your local post office). .
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Who investigates mail tampering?

The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) investigates: Mail Theft.
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Is stealing US mail a felony?

Because the United States Postal Service is a federal agency, mail theft is considered a federal crime. According to the United States Code 18 Section 1708, federal mail theft is a felony. Being charged with stealing mail could land you in federal prison for up to five years and cause you to pay a fine up to $250,000.
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How Scammers Are Redirecting Your Mail, Stealing Your Identity



What is the punishment for opening someone else's mail?

What Are The Penalties For Opening Someone Else's Mail? The minimum sentence for mail fraud/tampering is two years imprisonment, but more severe cases (for example, with obvious malicious intentions or extensive/repeated tampering) can earn you up to five years in jail.
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How can I get my neighbors to steal my mail?

If you have documented proof that your neighbor has stolen your package, here are several corrective steps you can take:
  1. File a claim with the shipping company.
  2. Request a replacement or refund from the vendor.
  3. File a police report or an insurance claim.
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What is tampering with mail?

Definition of Tampering

Theft, destruction and defacement of a piece of mail – a letter, postal card, package, box or bag – from a private mailbox, collection box, postal worker or mail truck is classified as mail tampering.
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Is it illegal to destroy someone else's mail?

Yes. It is a federal crime to open or destroy mail that is not intended for you. The law provides that you can not "destroy, hide, open, or embezzle" mail that is not addressed to you. If you intentionally open or destroy someone else's mail, you are committing obstruction of correspondence, which is a felony.
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What can I do if my neighbor takes my package?

If you had a delivery stolen from your doorway, here are five steps you can take to refund or recover the missing package.
  1. Confirm It Was Actually Delivered. ...
  2. Check With Neighbors. ...
  3. Ask Your Neighborhood Watch. ...
  4. Contact the Sender. ...
  5. File a Theft Report. ...
  6. Prevent Theft Before It Happens.
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How do you stop porch Pirates?

Unfortunately, it's also prime time for porch pirates — those burglars who steal packages left on porches or at front doors.
...
4 ways to prevent porch pirates from stealing your gifts
  1. Delivery lock boxes. Start with a package delivery box. ...
  2. Ring (or similar) doorbells. ...
  3. Cameras and floodlights. ...
  4. Ask a neighbor.
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Does USPS insurance cover theft?

File a USPS Claim

If your package was not insured and a missing mail search was conducted and the package was deemed stolen or damaged, a claim will only cover the shipping costs.
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Can I open mail that is not addressed to me?

Is it against the law to open someone else's mail? Opening someone else's mail is allowed in certain circumstances under the Postal Services Act 2000. It is only an offence if you open someone else's mail 'without reasonable excuse' or if you 'intend to act to another's detriment'.
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What should I do with mail that is not mine?

What do you write on mail that isn't yours? Cross out the barcode and write “Not at this Address: Return to Sender.” You can also just cross out the barcode and write “Return to Sender.”
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Is opening someone else's mail a crime?

Keeping Mail

Despite the fact that accidentally opening someone else's mail won't be illegal, what you do with it after can be incriminating. If you open the mail that has been wrongly delivered and also hold onto it dishonestly, you can be charged with concealment.
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Can my wife open my mail?

Under the law, tampering with, hiding or opening mail addressed to someone else, even if to your spouse or ex-spouse, is a Federal crime.
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Can you open mail addressed to your house but not your name?

A federal statute known as 18 USC Section 1702 makes it illegal to open correspondence addressed to someone else. However, the law cannot be applied if you did not recognize that the mail was not yours when you opened it.
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Can my mom open my mail?

It's is a federal offense to open someone else's mail. But if your daughter is a minor and your are the parent, you legally can open her mail. But may want to consider the emotional ramifications doing so may cause to your daughter and stress on your relationship with her.
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Will USPS refund for stolen package?

If your USPS lost package was insured, you should be able to get a refund directly from USPS. If your USPS package was stolen, you should be able to go through the seller to receive a replacement or refund.
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Who is responsible when package stolen?

The key parties involved in getting a package to a consumer are the Seller, the Delivery Company, and the Buyer. Unfortunately, if the package cannot be retrieved, there are no clear laws that put the onus on any one party.
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Do postal employees steal mail?

The overwhelming majority of Postal Service employees work conscientiously to move the nation's mail to its proper destination. Unfortunately, a small number of employees abuse the public's trust by delaying or stealing the mail.
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How do you outsmart porch Pirates?

IT PAYS TO KNOW: How to Outsmart Porch Pirates
  1. (1) Retrieve a package as soon as it arrives. ...
  2. (2) Have the sender require a signature for delivery. ...
  3. (3) Have the package placed out of sight. ...
  4. (4) Pick up your package someplace else. ...
  5. (5) Consider a door camera for security.
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Do cameras deter porch Pirates?

To prevent porch piracy, Holt recommended doorbell cameras, which deter thieves and record information if a package is stolen. He also advised picking up packages as soon after delivery as possible. Police also see a rise in thefts of items out of cars and of the vehicles themselves.
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How do I stop my package from being stolen from my porch?

To prevent your package being stolen off the front porch, side door, back porch, or garage area, ask for signature delivery. If your package is delivered by UPS/DHL/FedEx, consult your sender and require delivery confirmation signature. Signature-required delivery should be strictly followed by couriers.
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What to do if someone keeps stealing packages?

Delivery instructions can go a long way. If your packages are being stolen because they're left on your lawn or in your driveway, then clarifying that parcels need to be delivered at the front door could solve your problem. You could even ask packages be left in another location, such as at a back door.
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