USPS logo on a blue mailbox.
Share this @internewscast.com

CRIMINALS are robbing USPS letter carriers of their keys, leading to rampant mail theft.

The thieves are using the keys to steal residents’ mail and identities.

USPS logo on a blue mailbox.
USPS letter carriers are having their keys stolen from themCredit: Getty
Collage of USPS keys.
Criminals are selling arrow keys on the dark webCredit: ABC 7

Instances of theft have surged throughout New York and New Jersey, with a notable rise in reports of lost or stolen keys, according to local news outlet WABC.

Two people robbing a letter carrier in New Jersey and another man using a stolen postal key to open a mailbox in New York have been caught on camera.

“The postal service is under attack,” Frank Albergo, a postal police officer who’s the nationwide president of the postal police union, told WABC.

“It has become a very dangerous job becoming a letter carrier,” he said.

The thieves are stealing arrow keys, the master keys that can open any mailbox within a specific zip code.

“It’s like having a key to the city,” said Albergo.

“It’s a treasure trove for a criminal because once you get that mail, it’s like Christmas.”

USPS reported a “dramatic increase” in mail theft, and WABC found an equally large increase in key theft.

Last year, 282 postal keys were reported lost or stolen in New York, compared to the 155 keys reported stolen in 2023.

Stats show that the number is expected to be even higher in 2025.

USPS issues warning over ‘washed’ checks as customers lose $23k – it was all down to type of mailbox used

In 2023 and 2024, 191 keys were stolen in New Jersey, and 143 were stolen in the state of Connecticut in the same time frame.

Not only are the keys being used to steal from mailboxes, but they are also reportedly being sold on the dark web.

“New York City has become a central hub for the trade of these arrow keys,” stated David Maimon, a professor specializing in criminal justice and a security expert at Georgia State University, during a discussion with WABC.

The professor said that the wealthier the neighborhood, the higher the price.

“The current price for an arrow key ranges between $1,000 and $2,500 in the New York area,” said Maimon.

In a statement to the outlet, USPS said it has taken “significant action” to fight the crime.

USPS Statement

To combat these mail-related crimes, the Postmaster General and Chief Postal Inspector introduced Project Safe Delivery in May 2023. This initiative has successfully reduced robbery and mail theft incidents through its proactive strategies, resulting in numerous arrests. Specifically, there has been a 27% drop in robberies from fiscal year 2023 to fiscal year 2024, thanks to these efforts.

“The Postmaster General and the Chief Postal Inspector have taken significant action to counter mail crimes, including the launch of Project Safe Delivery in May 2023,” the agency wrote.

“The program’s proactive approach has led to a significant decrease in robbery and mail theft incidents.

“The program’s robust measures have led to hundreds of arrests for Postal robberies and thousands of arrests for mail theft.”

Project Safe Delivery includes replacing 50,000 of the old keys with electronic locks, but not everyone is convinced that it will fix the issue.

“At the end of the day, instead of robbing a mail carrier of a key, you’ll be robbing them of a phone or a fob or any other technology,” said Maimon.

The USPS did not immediately reply to The U.S. Sun’s request for comment.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Helicopter dropping cash from the sky.

Witness the chaos as deceased man’s fortune is released by helicopter, igniting a frantic dash as onlookers snatch bundles of money.

THIS is the moment a dead man’s life savings are dropped from…
Waycross teens killed by lightning strike, city manager says

City Manager Reports Teen Deaths from Lightning Strike in Waycross

Waycross City Manager Ulysess Rayford said the two teens were fishing when…

Grandpa’s Last Seen Moments on Video: Wife Shares Concern Over His ‘Confused’ Departure

GAS station footage has revealed the last moments a doting grandfather was…
Mugshot of a man in a yellow shirt.

Justin Mohn Convicted of Murdering Father and Posting Disturbing Video Online

A SICK man who slashed his dad’s head with a machete and…
Ovidio Guzmán López, son of Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, expected to plead guilty in Chicago court Friday

Ovidio Guzmán López, the son of drug kingpin ‘El Chapo’, anticipated to enter a guilty plea in Chicago court this Friday

CHICAGO (WLS) — The son of convicted Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El…
Missing 3-year-old Alabama child found safe following statewide manhunt for father

Three-Year-Old in Alabama Safely Located After Father Triggers Statewide Search

AUBURN, Ala. (WRBL) – The 3-year-old boy at the focus of a…
2025 Saturn retrograde in Aries, Pisces: Zodiac signs most affected

Zodiac Signs Most Influenced by the 2025 Saturn Retrograde in Aries and Pisces

Gather round, folks — formative, punishing daddy planet Saturn, AKA the true lord…
Chicago White Sox unveil statue of ace pitcher Mark Buehrle at Rate Field for 2005 World Series championship reunion weekend

Mark Buehrle Statue Unveiled at Rate Field During Chicago White Sox 2005 World Series Reunion Weekend

CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox unveiled a statue of former ace…
Singer Chris Brown pleads not guilty to 2 further charges over London nightclub assault case

Chris Brown Maintains Innocence Against Additional London Nightclub Assault Charges

LONDON — Grammy-winning singer Chris Brown on Friday entered a not guilty…
Photo of a man and his granddaughter.

Granddaughter’s Desperate Appeal After Grandfather Disappears Following 8,000-Mile Journey for Her Graduation

A grandfather vanished just a day after undertaking a journey of over…
Trump wants mass deportations, but US views of immigration are more positive since he took office

Trump Advocates for Mass Deportations, Yet American Opinions on Immigration Have Grown More Favorable Since His Presidency

WASHINGTON (AP) — Mere months after President Donald Trump’s return to office…
Portrait of Colonel Sergei Ilyin in military uniform.

Top Russian Commander, Accused of War Crimes and Atrocities, Killed in Ukraine Attack

VLADIMIR Putin’s brutal war machine was dealt another blow today as Moscow…