I’LL SHOW YOU HOW HOT THAT’S COMING UP. BACK TO YOU. THANKS, LUKE. IS SOMEBODY STEALING YOUR MAIL? RECENT VICTIMS WARN YOU SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR POLICE. DATA POINTS TO A RISE IN MAIL THEFTS AND KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN’S ERIN HAGERTY IS LIVE DOWNTOWN WITH DETAILS ON THIS. ERIN. YEAH. ROB. JULIE. THE U.S. POSTAL INSPECTION SERVICE SAYS MAIL THEFT OFTEN ISN’T A PETTY CRIME. INSTEAD, IT’S CARRIED OUT BY SOPHISTICATED CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS. THEY SAY THE PRIMARY INTENT IS TO STEAL YOUR MONEY OR YOUR IDENTITY NEAR 144TH AND BLONDO, A BOLD CRIME IN BROAD DAYLIGHT. A PAIR OF PEOPLE IN A BLUE CAR SEE THE FLAG UP ON KASEY DANIEL’S MAILBOX AND QUICKLY TAKE THE OUTGOING MAIL RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. SO I WATCHED THE WHOLE THING. I WAS I WAS KIND OF SHOCKED, LIKE I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO AT FIRST. I ALMOST AND THEN I WAS LIKE, YEAH, THEY’RE JUST STEALING MY MAIL. DANIEL SAW IT OUT HER WINDOW AS SHE WAS WORKING FROM HOME. I WAS ACTUALLY JUST SENDING A LETTER TO A FRIEND, SO I’M HAPPY THAT IT WAS NOTHING MORE. I JUST FELT REALLY VIOLATED AND I PROBABLY WOULDN’T HAVE EVER KNOWN THAT IT DIDN’T MAKE IT TO MY FRIEND UNLESS I HAD JUST WITNESSED IT. SHE THINKS THEY WERE LOOKING FOR OUTGOING CHECKS TO TO LAUNDER AND PAY THEMSELVES MAIL THEFT SEEMS TO BE ON THE RISE IN ALL OF 2022. THERE WERE 42 REPORTS TO OMAHA POLICE, BUT IN JUST THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR 44 HAVE BEEN REPORTED. IF THERE ARE ANY NEIGHBORHOODS THAT BELIEVE THEY’D BE SAFE FROM MAIL THEFT, RESIDENTS AT 168TH AND WEST CENTER SAY THEY WOULD BE AMONG THEM. WE HAVE METAL DOORS WITH LOCKS, SO YOU ASSUME THAT THERE’S ADDITIONAL SECURITY THERE. WE HAD ABOUT 40 OF OUR 60 MAILBOX BROKEN INTO AND MAIL STOLEN. THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT FOR THE AREA, GREG SCAGLIONE, SAYS IT HAPPENED OVERNIGHT LAST MONTH. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS NEIGHBOR, THEIR MAILBOX DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE AT ALL. HE THINKS THEY WERE AFTER SENSITIVE INFORMATION TO STEAL IDENTITIES. YOU EXPECT THAT WHEN YOU HAVE MAILBOXES THAT PEOPLE WILL HONOR THAT THAT’S OTHER PEOPLE’S PROPERTY. IT’S VERY FRUSTRATING. AND THE POSTAL INSPECTION SERVICE WANTS TO HELP YOU KEEP YOUR MAIL SAFE. THEY SAY YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR INFORMED DELIVERY ONLINE. THAT WAY YOU KNOW WHAT SHOULD BE SHOWING UP IN THE MAIL. AND THEY SAY YOU SHOULDN’T LET MAIL SIT IN THE BOX VERY LONG. IF YOU’RE GOING OUT OF TOWN, YOU CAN PLACE A HOLD ON YOUR MAIL AT THE POST OFFICE. WE HAV
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'Wouldn't have ever known': Mail theft victims warn Omaha community
Omaha Police data show an increase in mail theft
Aaron Hegarty
Investigative Reporter
If she didn't see it happen, Kassi Daniels says she might've never found out a letter she was trying to send to a friend was stolen out of her mailbox."I just felt really violated," she told KETV.It happened earlier this month near 144th and Blondo. A car pulled up to her mailbox with the flag up, stopped, and took the letter. She thinks the driver and a passenger were looking for outgoing checks to launder.The U.S. Postal Inspection Service says often mail theft isn't a petty crime. Instead, it's carried out by "sophisticated criminal organizations." The primary goal is to take your money or your identity.Between the 2019 and 2023 fiscal years, the Postal Inspection Service says reports of high-volume mail theft more than doubled. They increased 139% to nearly 50,000. In the spring of 2023, the Postal Service and Postal Inspection Service launched an initiative in response.Omaha saw a similar increase between 2022 and 2023, according to data provided by Omaha Police.The department found 42 mail theft reports from 2022. That more than doubled in 2023 to 91. This year, Omaha is on track for a similar number, with 44 reports through June.Related Coverage: Douglas County deputies arrest 2 people accused in 'prevalent' mail theft in Omaha area If there are any neighborhoods that believe they'd be safe from mail theft, residents of the Legacy subdivision near 168th and West Center Road say they would be among them.There, the mailboxes lock. But the homeowner's association president for the area, Greg Scaglione, says about 40 of 60 mailboxes were pried open overnight last month. Some wouldn't close again and needed to be replaced.He believes they were after sensitive information to steal identities."You expect that when you have mailboxes that people will honor that that's other people's property," he said. "It's very frustrating."Scaglione is hopeful the neighborhood will get justice. He said a camera was able to read most of the license plate of a vehicle of interest. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service provided these tips:Don’t leave delivered mail and packages unattended. Just as wallets and purses shouldn’t be left on the front seat of an unlocked car overnight, mail and packages shouldn’t be left uncollected in mailboxes or on front porches for any length of time.Customize the delivery. If the package doesn’t fit in the mailbox and the customer won’t be home to receive it, the customer can provide delivery instructions online and authorize the carrier to leave it in a specified location. Visit USPS.com, enter the tracking number and select Delivery Instructions.Going out of town? Hold mail at the local Post Office. Instead of risking leaving a package or other mail unattended for an extended period of time, customers planning on being away from home for a few days are encouraged to take advantage of the Hold Mail service on USPS.com. Letters and packages will be held securely at the local Post Office until the customers return.Secure the shipment using USPS Special Services. Signature Confirmation helps ensure the package ends up in the right hands by requiring the recipient’s first initial and last name at the time of delivery. For the most valuable packages, customers can opt for Registered Mail service. A Registered Mail® piece receives special handling from the time it’s mailed until it’s delivered, documenting the chain of custody.Plan ahead. Ship using Hold for Pickup. When shipping packages, customers can choose the Hold for Pickup option, and the recipients can collect the packages at their local Post Office. For customers receiving packages, they can redirect incoming packages to their local Post Office by selecting Hold for Pickup using USPS Package Intercept on USPS.com.Monitor your front door. If you have a home security camera system, ensure it captures activity at your front door and mailbox. If you catch any mail thieves in the act, save the video and alert your local Postal Inspectors by calling 877-876-2455. Don’t let incoming or outgoing mail sit in your mailbox. You can significantly reduce the chance of being victimized by simply removing your mail from your mailbox every day. Deposit outgoing mail through a number of secure manners including inside your local Post Office or at your place of business or by handing it to a letter carrier. Sign up for Informed Delivery and get daily digest emails that preview your mail and packages scheduled to arrive soon. Become involved and engaged in your neighborhood via neighborhood watches and local social media groups to spread awareness and share information. Keep an eye out for your letter carrier. If you see something that looks suspicious, or you see someone following your carrier, call 911. Customers are encouraged to report stolen mail as soon as possible by submitting an online complaint to the Postal Inspection Service at www.uspis.gov/report or calling 877-876-2455.Click here for the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7
OMAHA, Neb. —
If she didn't see it happen, Kassi Daniels says she might've never found out a letter she was trying to send to a friend was stolen out of her mailbox.
"I just felt really violated," she told KETV.
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It happened earlier this month near 144th and Blondo. A car pulled up to her mailbox with the flag up, stopped, and took the letter. She thinks the driver and a passenger were looking for outgoing checks to launder.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service says often mail theft isn't a petty crime. Instead, it's carried out by "sophisticated criminal organizations." The primary goal is to take your money or your identity.
Between the 2019 and 2023 fiscal years, the Postal Inspection Service says reports of high-volume mail theft more than doubled. They increased 139% to nearly 50,000. In the spring of 2023, the Postal Service and Postal Inspection Service launched an initiative in response.
Omaha saw a similar increase between 2022 and 2023, according to data provided by Omaha Police.
The department found 42 mail theft reports from 2022. That more than doubled in 2023 to 91. This year, Omaha is on track for a similar number, with 44 reports through June.
Related Coverage: Douglas County deputies arrest 2 people accused in 'prevalent' mail theft in Omaha area
If there are any neighborhoods that believe they'd be safe from mail theft, residents of the Legacy subdivision near 168th and West Center Road say they would be among them.
There, the mailboxes lock. But the homeowner's association president for the area, Greg Scaglione, says about 40 of 60 mailboxes were pried open overnight last month. Some wouldn't close again and needed to be replaced.
He believes they were after sensitive information to steal identities.
"You expect that when you have mailboxes that people will honor that that's other people's property," he said. "It's very frustrating."
Scaglione is hopeful the neighborhood will get justice. He said a camera was able to read most of the license plate of a vehicle of interest.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service provided these tips:
- Don’t leave delivered mail and packages unattended. Just as wallets and purses shouldn’t be left on the front seat of an unlocked car overnight, mail and packages shouldn’t be left uncollected in mailboxes or on front porches for any length of time.
- Customize the delivery. If the package doesn’t fit in the mailbox and the customer won’t be home to receive it, the customer can provide delivery instructions online and authorize the carrier to leave it in a specified location. Visit USPS.com, enter the tracking number and select Delivery Instructions.
- Going out of town? Hold mail at the local Post Office. Instead of risking leaving a package or other mail unattended for an extended period of time, customers planning on being away from home for a few days are encouraged to take advantage of the Hold Mail service on USPS.com. Letters and packages will be held securely at the local Post Office until the customers return.
- Secure the shipment using USPS Special Services. Signature Confirmation helps ensure the package ends up in the right hands by requiring the recipient’s first initial and last name at the time of delivery. For the most valuable packages, customers can opt for Registered Mail service. A Registered Mail® piece receives special handling from the time it’s mailed until it’s delivered, documenting the chain of custody.
- Plan ahead. Ship using Hold for Pickup. When shipping packages, customers can choose the Hold for Pickup option, and the recipients can collect the packages at their local Post Office. For customers receiving packages, they can redirect incoming packages to their local Post Office by selecting Hold for Pickup using USPS Package Intercept on USPS.com.
- Monitor your front door. If you have a home security camera system, ensure it captures activity at your front door and mailbox. If you catch any mail thieves in the act, save the video and alert your local Postal Inspectors by calling 877-876-2455.
- Don’t let incoming or outgoing mail sit in your mailbox. You can significantly reduce the chance of being victimized by simply removing your mail from your mailbox every day.
- Deposit outgoing mail through a number of secure manners including inside your local Post Office or at your place of business or by handing it to a letter carrier.
- Sign up for Informed Delivery and get daily digest emails that preview your mail and packages scheduled to arrive soon.
- Become involved and engaged in your neighborhood via neighborhood watches and local social media groups to spread awareness and share information.
- Keep an eye out for your letter carrier. If you see something that looks suspicious, or you see someone following your carrier, call 911.
- Customers are encouraged to report stolen mail as soon as possible by submitting an online complaint to the Postal Inspection Service at www.uspis.gov/report or calling 877-876-2455.
Click here for the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7
