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USPS 11\/22\/17 – This holiday season the Postal Service looks forward to delivering a great deal of holiday cheer along with more than 15 billion mail pieces. Consumers trust the Postal Service to deliver secure and economical shipping options.<\/p>\n
The Postal Inspection Service, the federal law enforcement arm of the Postal Service, is working around-the-clock to keep your important shipments safe and deter mail and parcel theft.<\/p>\n
In addition, we\u2019re offering 10 secure shipping tips, that provide options to help ensure your important packages reach their destination, and brighten the lives of friends and loved ones this holiday season. (See attachment).<\/p>\n
If you notice an unfamiliar vehicle following behind the USPS truck or unknown persons loitering around mailboxes, immediately report the activity to your local police department and then call the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455. The package you save may be your own. If you feel that you are a victim of a crime involving the mail, you may submit an online complaint, by visiting\u00a0www.USPS.com<\/em><\/a>, and selecting the Postal Inspectors link at the bottom of the page (https:\/\/postalinspectors.uspis.gov<\/em><\/a>).<\/p>\n PROTECT MAIL AND PACKAGES 1. Avoid sending cash by mail.<\/strong>\u00a0Checks and money orders are safer than cash and may be cancelled or reissued in the event of theft.<\/p>\n 2. Don\u2019t leave delivered mail and packages unattended.<\/strong>\u00a0Just as wallets and purses shouldn\u2019t be left on the front seat of an unlocked car overnight, mail and packages shouldn\u2019t be left uncollected in mailboxes or on front porches for any length of time.<\/p>\n 3. Consider an alternate shipping address.<\/strong>\u00a0Customers can arrange to have packages delivered to neighbors who are home during the day or get packages delivered at work, if permitted.<\/p>\n 4. Change the package\u2019s address \u2014 while it\u2019s in transit!<\/strong>\u00a0Customers who know they won\u2019t be home when their package is delivered can try\u00a0USPS Package Intercept<\/em>. Prior to delivery, most domestic package shipments can be redirected back to the sender, to a new address or to the Post Office to be held for pickup.<\/p>\n 5. Customize the delivery.<\/strong>\u00a0If the package doesn\u2019t fit in the mailbox and the customer won\u2019t be home to receive it, the customer can provide delivery instructions online and authorize the carrier to leave it in a specified location. Visit\u00a0usps.com<\/em>, enter the tracking number and select\u00a0Delivery Instructions<\/em>. Customers can also request their packages be left with a neighbor or held at a Post Office for pickup.<\/p>\n 6. Plan ahead. Ship using\u00a0<\/strong>Hold for Pickup<\/em><\/strong>.<\/strong>\u00a0When shipping packages, customers can choose the\u00a0Hold for Pickup\u00a0<\/em>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\u00a0Hold for Pickup\u00a0<\/em>using\u00a0USPS Package Intercept<\/em>.<\/p>\n 7. Going out of town? Hold mail at the local Post Office.<\/strong>\u00a0Instead of risking leaving a package 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\u00a0Request Hold Mail\u00a0<\/em>service. Letters and packages will be held securely at the local Post Office until the customers return.<\/p>\n 8. Secure the shipment using\u00a0<\/strong>USPS Signature Services<\/em><\/strong>.<\/strong>\u00a0Signature Services\u00a0<\/em>help ensure the package ends up in the right hands by requiring a signature at the time of delivery.<\/p>\n 9. Choose the most secure form of delivery.<\/strong>\u00a0For the most valuable packages, customers can opt for Registered Mail service. Registered Mail receives special handling from the time it\u2019s mailed until it\u2019s delivered, documenting the chain of custody.<\/p>\n 10. PO Boxes might be the answer.<\/strong>\u00a0Customers concerned about the security of their mail can consider renting a Post Office Box at their local Post Office. The mail remains secure within the Post Office, accessible only when using the right key or combination. Many Post Office lobbies are open 24\/7, allowing customers to retrieve mail on their schedule.<\/p>\n
\nTen Ways to Protect<\/strong><\/p>\n