Postal Service investigating mail thefts from Hancock County collection boxes

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is investigating mail thefts from blue collection boxes in Hancock County.

Julie Nicholson-Morgan with the USPIS confirmed the thefts, which occurred between October 2023 and January 2024.

Those boxes are now covered and available for mail deposits.

Nicholson-Morgan said any customer who believes they may be a victim of mail theft should report it immediately to police and the Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455 or at USPIS.gov/report.

Anyone with information about the mail thefts are asked to call the tips hotline at 877-876-2455 or visit USPIS.gov.

To minimize the chance of having mail stolen, customers are advised to not let mail sit in your home mailbox and deposit outgoing mail in the lobby of their local post office or an official USPS collection box. If using the collection box, try to deposit the mail before the last collection time displayed on the box to reduce chance of theft.

Stealing mail is a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison and substantial fines.