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United States Postal Services replaces mailboxes to prevent 'fishing'


The upgraded United States Postal Service mailbox design which uses a smaller slot to fit envelopes rather than a hinged door. This makes it more difficult for sensitive information to be stolen. (WJAR){ }
The upgraded United States Postal Service mailbox design which uses a smaller slot to fit envelopes rather than a hinged door. This makes it more difficult for sensitive information to be stolen. (WJAR)
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Big blue mailboxes have been around for a long time but some people may have noticed a big change, the hinged door where mail is dropped in has been replaced with a small slot that fits an envelope.

The United States Postal Service said its been upgrading mailboxes since 2019 to make it harder for people to steal sensitive information.

Carl Mercer lives in Warwick and said he’s been dropping his mail off in the curbside box at the end of Leigh Street since 1987.

“I put my money order in there for a bill and they said 'I never got it,'” said Mercer.

He said about two months ago, he dropped off a money order for his car insurance, but it was never delivered.

“It got stolen out of this here mailbox. I put it in the mailbox, they said 'We didn’t get it, we didn’t get it.' She comes up on her computer -- it did not receive your money order,” he said.

Mercer said he thinks someone pulled his envelope out of the drop box.

Tim Riley has been a letter carrier with USPS for 25 years and said Mercer was likely a victim of "fishing."

“They were dropping stuff down to fish, they would tie a water bottle with sticky substances around it and they would drop it down when we had the old drawers, it would be just like fishing, whatever would stick to it, they would pull up,” said Riley.

Riley said he’s found the remnants of some unsuccessful fishing trips.

“I found a couple in here,” he said. “Just a water bottle with the sticky stuff and the string.”

To prevent this crime, USPS said its been replacing mailboxes that pull open with mailboxes that only have a half-inch opening, making it harder for criminals to pull mail out.

“There’s a lot of identity theft going around and that’s probably what they’re looking for now too. I would recommend that if you get the draw ones don’t put your mail in the drawer ones," said Riley.

Mercer said he was able to cancel his money order before the criminal could do anything with it. He said he now brings all of his mail right to the post office.

USPS said mail theft is a federal crime can carry a sentence of up to five years in prison.

If you believe your mail was stolen, report it immediately by submitting an online complaint or calling 877-876-2455.

By analyzing information from your complaint, postal inspectors can determine if your problem is part of a larger mail theft problem in your neighborhood and your input may help inspectors locate and apprehend the thieves.

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