NY CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION MEMBERS CALL ON POSTMASTER GENERAL TO IMPLEMENT BROAD, AGGRESSIVE PROGRAM TO COMBAT THEFT OF MAIL ACROSS THE HUDSON VALLEY
Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee Congresswoman Nita Lowey (NY-17), Senator Chuck Schumer (NY), Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), and Congressmen Eliot Engel (NY-16) and Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) today sent a letter to United States Postmaster General Megan Brennan calling for the Postal Service to address theft of mail across the Hudson Valley.
In the letter, the Members highlighted incidents of stolen mail that resulted in financial fraud and identity theft. From missing payments to emptied bank accounts after thieves “wash” checks pulled from collection boxes, mail theft threatens the livelihood of constituents.
“These thefts occur daily, rapidly and significantly decreasing the reliability of the Postal Service,” the Members wrote. “These widespread incidents cost our constituents large sums of money and much time to remedy, not to mention the confidence and peace of mind that the Postal Service prides itself on providing.”
The delegation was alerted to these alarming thefts by Westchester County District Attorney Anthony Scarpino last week.
“We know from our constituents and from media reports that similar thefts have occurred in Rockland County, Bronx County, and elsewhere across our region of New York. The Postal Service must implement new technology to secure collection boxes and significantly increase the number of Postal Inspectors to prevent and investigate this epidemic of theft,” the Members concluded.
Full text of the letter is below and here.
Service problems with the Postal Service in the Hudson Valley have proven to be widespread and systemic in recent months and years. Members of the delegation have also called on the Postal Service to address constituent complaints regarding delivery reliability and develop a comprehensive plan to end the unacceptable, potentially life-threatening mail delivery issues that plague the area.
May 22, 2018
The Hon. Megan J. Brennan
Postmaster General
United States Postal Service
475 L’Enfant Plaza SW
Washington, DC 20260-3500
Dear Postmaster General Brennan:
Over the past year, we Members of Congress representing the Hudson Valley have been in contact with the United States Postal Service (USPS) regarding a range of problems our constituents face with the Postal Service. We write today to call on the Postal Service to implement a broad, aggressive program to combat robberies and theft of mail across the Hudson Valley. We ask that this plan include an increase in the number of Postal Inspectors and investments in new technology to secure collection boxes.
Mail theft threatens the livelihood of our constituents and impacts our most vulnerable populations. These thefts occur daily, rapidly and significantly decreasing the reliability of the Postal Service. Thieves are not only “fishing” mail out of collection boxes, but are stealing the entire mailbox or using keys acquired from postal employees.
Thieves use stolen mail to commit financial fraud and identity theft. Our constituents have been accused of missing payments, and some of their bank accounts have been emptied after thieves “wash” checks pulled from mailboxes. These widespread incidents cost our constituents large sums of money and much time to remedy, not to mention the confidence and peace of mind that the Postal Service prides itself on providing.
As outlined in the attached letter, Westchester County District Attorney Anthony Scarpino is working with Postal Inspectors and local law enforcement officers. However, he reports that the Postal Service has only six full-time Postal Inspectors to cover the Bronx and the counties in the Hudson Valley. We know from our constituents and from media reports that similar thefts have occurred in Rockland County, Bronx County, and elsewhere across our region of New York. The Postal Service must implement new technology to secure collection boxes and significantly increase the number of Postal Inspectors to prevent and investigate this epidemic of theft.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter. We look forward to reviewing your plan.
Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator
Kirsten Gillibrand
United States Senator
Nita M. Lowey
Member of Congress
Eliot L. Engel
Member of Congress
Sean Patrick Maloney
Member of Congress
Enclosure
cc: Mr. Ronald A. Stroman
Deputy Postmaster General
475 L’Enfant Plaza SW
Washington, DC 20260-0050
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