![]() They use a pry tool or facsimile key that allows them to get into these places and use the same key to get into everyone's mailboxes so they're not going to homes but they're going to condo and apartment buildings because there's a large bank of mailboxes for them to utilize and take everything."Ĩth Grader, Teen Among 4 Dead After Spate of Crime in Gary, Indiana Baker said, "What they are doing is simple. Nearing retirement after 30 years of service, Sgt. "We find out about it when somebody has been notified that they were a victim of a credit card fraud or the bank has alerted them that they are missing money." Most of the time, the victim is unaware that anything has even happened," said Sgt. The 19th District covers Lincoln Square, Uptown, Sheridan Park, North Center, Ravenswood, Lakeview, Wrigleyville, Boystown, Roscoe Village, Southport Corridor, Sheffield & DePaul and Lincoln Park neighborhoods. Patrick Barker said the 19th police district has received calls about stolen mail almost every day. They are thieves using real and counterfeit keys to steal mail and people’s identities.įor the last year and a half, Chicago Police Sgt. ![]() postal keys, but they are not postal carriers. The Postal Service will furnish the “master access lock” that allows mail to be delivered.Through rain, sleet or snow, especially in the dead of night, they carry what appear to be U.S. The locks or keys for each of the compartments will be provided with the mailbox unit. Whether the mailboxes are commercial or residential, the builder or property owner is responsible for providing lock and key service for cluster box units. The master access door(s) must be allowed to open a minimum of 90 degrees with no obstruction. The floor of the lowest parcel locker shall be no less than 15 inches above the finished floor. The USPS master door lock opening must be a minimum of 36 inches and a maximum of 48 inches above the finished floor. ![]() The patron lock in the highest mailbox shall be no more than 67 inches above the finished floor. The floor of the lowest patron mailbox shall be no less than 28 inches above the finished floor. This standard replaces traditional cube-style compartments with more flat-style compartments as well as incorporates integrated or stand-alone parcel locker options into the mailbox. A minimum of one parcel locker is required for every five residences.Īll 4C units must meet the following installation requirements: In 2006, postal regulations were updated to require all new construction and major renovation projects to use mailbox systems that complied with USPS STD-4C. And getting approval or even basic information takes a great deal of patience and perseverance. Upgrades must be done in accordance with USPS regulations. Replacing the cam locks on an individual box is a quick and easy job, and installing new, more-secure mailboxes and package lockers is a much bigger undertaking. Many are rusted, damaged and ready for an upgrade. Think of mailbox banks commonly found in apartment and condominium developments or even small, upscale subdivisions. The bigger opportunities are in the multifamily market. Although their installation is likely a DIY or handyman job, locksmiths will be called on when keys are lost. Locking mailboxes are available through big-box and building supply stores. In single-family neighborhoods, most mailboxes are at the curb or on the front porch, in reach of any passersby. Many could be prevented if mailboxes were well-secured. Often, these thefts are crimes of opportunity, with thieves grabbing mail out of an open box, hoping to find gift cards, credit cards or the information necessary for identity theft. With an average of 129.2 pieces of mail delivered annually to 161.5 million addresses, many more thefts likely go unnoticed and unreported. And that’s just the mail that’s reported to the United States Postal Service (USPS) as stolen. The Postal Inspection Service data shows that mail-theft reports soared by 600% over a three-year period, rising from about 25,000 in 2017 to roughly 177,000 in 2020. Mail theft is a growing problem, and many mailboxes are easy targets.
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