HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — 12/6/24 – Dale Langham keeps copies of surveillance video every time the cluster mailbox outside of his business office in Houston is broken into.

He said he hoped the videos would help police identify who stole the company’s incoming checks. But, he said after filing a complaint with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service earlier this year, he never heard back from an inspector.

“We continue to have visitors come and take our mail, but we’ve not heard from anyone, not seen anyone except thieves,” Langham said.

Now, 13 Investigates is learning just how many resources the federal government has to investigate the thousands of complaints of mail theft it gets from Texans every year.

USPIS made 215 arrests from the start of the year through Sept. 2, according to data 13 Investigates obtained through a federal records request.

We also found there are just 55 USPIS postal inspectors employed statewide, according to a federal records request we made in September.

One of those inspectors, Miguel Arispe, is now warning residents of what they can do to try to protect their mail as the holiday season approaches.

“The Postal Inspection Service is aware of the numbers regarding the arrests made in the Houston area for this year. Every arrest can clear dozens of mail theft complaints,” said Arispe, who is also a public information officer for USPIS. “Regarding your statement about postal inspectors in Texas, the Postal Inspection Service would like the public to know that we take every report of mail theft seriously. We work diligently with our local law enforcement partners to investigate cases of mail theft.”

USPIS is also warning residents not to get “snowed by holiday scams” through a series of public service announcements featuring a mischievous snowman dressed as a burglar.