Postal theft breaches trust (Postal employees stealing from the mail)

WhittierDailyNews.com ^ | 10/26/2006 | non-attributed

[APRPEH]

IDENTITY theft has caused $56 billion in losses in 2005, according to a California research firm that studies the problem.

Governmental agencies suggest that 10 million Americans are victims of identity theft each year.

But most of that illegal activity comes from online thieves hacking into computers, stealing credit card numbers, bank card account numbers or Social Security Card numbers and using that stolen "identity" to buy merchandise or liquefy bank accounts. A more elaborate scheme discovered earlier this week had eastern European and Asian hackers busting into customer accounts of TD Ameritrade Holding Corp. and E-Trade Financial Corp. in a stock scam that resulted in customers losing money without their even knowing it.

But it is not always such sophisticated thievery that is in play. In fact, a lot of what gets lumped in as "identity theft" is just old-fashioned theft. Recently, staff writer Ruby Gonzales wrote about an indictment against 20 members of an identity theft ring plus an unknown number of postal service employees at the post office's Industry Processing and Distribution Center, according to authorities.

According to the story, an unknown number of postal workers at the San Gabriel Valley's main postal facility have been opening mail, stealing the credit cards and Treasury Department checks and passing them along to their fence in Orange County. This took place from January 2003 to August 2006. At Orange County coffee shops and diners, the thieves exchanged goods and then obtained bogus IDs to cash the government checks and/or rack up credit card charges in Las Vegas, Loughlin and Reno casinos and banks.

[APRPEH]

imagine what other government employees who have access to your info can do?

[domenad]

I worked for the Post Office once, and I had to watch a video about the "sacred-ness" of the mail. It was narrated by none other than EDWARD JAMES OLMOS. This campy production showed a postal employee putting a check in his shoe or something. The postal inspectors show up to arrest him and they are all wearing...MEMBER'S ONLY jackets.

[Fighting Irish]

Every time I read one these stories I cannot help but wonder if the source is from the lobby to privatize the postal service.

One of the agencies left on earth that is actually a good deal.

Here in Florida while UPS, FedEx couldn't move while the power was out for over 2 weeks after hurricane Wilma ... the postal service didn't miss a beat. There's something to be said for a company that doesn't need computers or high tech to get a job done.

There are internal systems in place to catch and punish theft within the postal service....and it's Federal time too!

If you consider the fact that on average - the allowable number for loss per Home Depot store is 1 million dollars - the USPS is still doing a great job.

[wideawake]

I remember a mail carrier in Chicago back in the early 90s who was "harvesting" the mail on his route.

They found a abandoned mailtruck stuffed to the gills with undelivered or open mail that he had stashed there.

[ErnBatavia]

We've got a large new post office locally - one trip I couldn't buy stamps because of the dreaded "The Computer Is Down" syndrome.

[Right Wing Assault]

Next thing you know they'll be telling us employees steal from our luggage at the airport!

[kellynla]

About 15 years ago we had a postman who was stealing everybody's credit cards that were coming through the mail.(I subsequently obtained a post office box...at least they have video cameras to keep the workers half arse honest.LOL)
When the cops went to the postman's apartment, the moron didn't even have sense enough to throw away everybody's old mail he had stacked up.
Mr. Einstein had one year before retirement. These days, half the postal workers don't speak English and the other half don't don't know what they're doing! We actually had one carrier who was delivering mail to the wrong friggin' street!!! HELLoooooo And the U.S.P.S. can't figure out why they're losing money.

[Bernard Marx]

If you consider the fact that on average - the allowable number for loss per Home Depot store is 1 million dollars - the USPS is still doing a great job.

I agree the USPS does good work. But as someone who uses it a lot, I'm hugely alarmed at the great increase in the amount of pilfered mail over the past decade or two. I've experienced that problem personally, and very recently as well.

[Freedom4US]

They conveniently left out the fact that USPS competitors have a far higher pilferage rate, since stealing US mail is still a federal crime.

[Snoopers-868th]

Employer dedication to their employees has vanished and with it employee loyalty and dedication have vanished. This should be no surprise in the dog-eat-dog atmosphere.

[APRPEH]

the .39 first class letter is still a good deal. and in theory, a postal service with career benefits should be incentive enough to prevent crime. but theft from the mail is happening and I have even had reports from post office box customers not receiving certain documents and valuables. most postal employees are honest of course. but the nature of this national system needing to earn complete confidence from the citizenry is crucial to the national interest.

a few selected thefts of mail from one person over the course of say 1/2 year or year would yield enough information for even a dumb fraudster.

[relictele]

I don't think I have any theft to report but the USPS is hopeless when it comes to delivering parcels.

I see eBay sellers relying on USPS over UPS and I just shake my head. The UPS guys are top drawer and will move heaven and earth to get your goods to you. USPS can't be bothered.

[murphE]

Postal employees stealing from the mail?

NEWMAN!

[Fighting Irish]

Funny ... I have had the exact opposite experience shipping Ebay items.

For me... the USPS is efficient and affordable.

Not many people know you can print labels from online and get free tracking and confirmation as well from the same site.

[Valpal1]

I ship over 500 ebay purchases per month and use USPS for 98% of them. UPS is overpriced for the 2-3 lb packages that make up the majority of my business.

I get extremely good customer service from my local post office, they make a serious effort to keep my business.

UPS on the other hand, routinely mis-delivers packages and then tries to charge a $5.00 surcharge for their mistake.

[PissAndVinegar]

Who competes with the USPS?
No one else handles letter mail.

USPS is now competing with UPS/fedEx/etc for packages but they have the monopoly on letters.

[vetvetdoug]

Affirmative action in motion. Netflix had a time with our Post Office for awhile, just about every DVD sent never was returned after it hit our heavily affirmative action post office. I remember when newly minted coins were sent through the Post Office in Philadelphia, the Post Office couldn't keep the commodes running for all of the wrappers and boxes that were stuffed into them. When the US Postal Service is made to account for employee output is when theft decreases and efficiency increases.

[rivercat]

When I was stationed in Germany, the APO postal workers would steal our magazines. My wife used to subscribe to The Star(tabloid), and we would get it several months late with the crossword puzzle already completed(which was the only reason she subscribed!).

[Freedom4US]

That's because USPS can't compete with larger packages. 2 lbs or less, flat-rate priority boxes are tailor made for eBayers. Anything that's worth insuring is worth requiring a signature confirmation, not a delivery confirmation...

[relictele]

Not many people know you can print labels from online and get free tracking and confirmation as well from the same site.

I'm sure there are regional/local differences but in addition to UPS' diligence the online tracking for UPS is vastly superior to the USPS site, when it works at all.