Jul 01, 2026

What to Do If Your Mail Is Stolen

You check your mailbox and it is empty. You were expecting a credit card statement, a check, maybe a package. Informed Delivery says it was delivered hours ago. Something is wrong, and your gut already knows what happened.

Mail theft is more common than most people realize. The USPS Office of Inspector General recorded over 52,000 high-volume theft attacks in FY2024, and Security.org estimates that 64 million Americans have had a package stolen. If it happens to you, acting quickly makes a real difference in limiting the damage.

Here is exactly what to do, step by step.

Step 1: Confirm Your Mail Was Actually Stolen

Before filing any reports, make sure the mail was actually taken and not delayed, misdelivered, or held at the post office.

Check Informed Delivery

If you are signed up for USPS Informed Delivery, log in and check whether the items you expected were actually scanned for delivery. Informed Delivery sends you a daily email with images of incoming mail pieces. If the images show items that never arrived, you have a strong indicator of theft. If you are not signed up yet, you can do so for free at informeddelivery.usps.com.

Ask Your Mail Carrier or Local Post Office

Sometimes mail gets held for a reason you were not notified about, or a substitute carrier delivers to the wrong address. Call your local post office and ask if there is anything unusual going on with your route. If there is a pattern of theft in your area, your carrier may already know about it.

Step 2: Report the Theft to USPS

Filing a Complaint with the Postal Inspection Service

The USPS Postal Inspection Service is the federal agency responsible for investigating mail-related crimes. You can file a complaint online at uspis.gov/report or by calling 1-877-876-2455. Filing a report creates an official record of the theft and helps the Inspection Service identify patterns in your area. Even if your individual case does not lead to an arrest, the data contributes to resource allocation and investigations.

What Information You Will Need

Have the following ready when you file: your full name and address, the date you noticed the mail was missing, a description of what was taken (type of mail, sender if known, approximate value), any evidence such as Informed Delivery scans or security camera footage, and tracking numbers for any packages involved.

Step 3: File a Police Report

In addition to reporting to USPS, file a report with your local police department. Some jurisdictions allow you to do this online. A police report gives you documentation you may need later for insurance claims, bank disputes, or identity theft recovery. Be specific about what was stolen and when, and ask for a copy of the report or at least the case number.

Step 4: Protect Your Identity and Finances

If the stolen mail contained anything with personal or financial information, you need to move fast. The gap between a stolen letter and a drained bank account can be disturbingly short.

Contact Your Bank and Credit Card Companies

If checks, bank statements, or credit card offers were in the stolen mail, call your bank immediately. Ask them to flag your account for suspicious activity, issue new checks with different account numbers if necessary, and cancel any checks that were in transit. Financial institutions filed over 682,000 Suspicious Activity Reports tied to check fraud in 2024. Banks take this seriously because they know how widespread the problem is.

Place a Fraud Alert or Credit Freeze

A fraud alert tells creditors to take extra steps to verify your identity before opening new accounts. You can place one for free by contacting any one of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion), and that bureau is required to notify the other two. A credit freeze goes further and blocks new accounts from being opened entirely until you lift it. If your Social Security number, tax documents, or pre-approved credit offers were in the stolen mail, a freeze is the safer choice.

Monitor Your Credit

Check your credit reports at annualcreditreport.com, which gives you free weekly reports from all three bureaus. Look for accounts you did not open, inquiries you do not recognize, and address changes you did not authorize. You can also report identity theft at identitytheft.gov, which is run by the Federal Trade Commission and will walk you through a personalized recovery plan.

Step 5: Stop It from Happening Again

Reporting and damage control are necessary, but they are reactive. Once you have dealt with the immediate fallout, the real question is how to make sure this does not happen a second time.

The most effective long-term solution is replacing your standard mailbox with one that locks and cannot be easily broken into. At Fort Knox Mailbox, every unit we build is made from 1/4-inch solid steel and fully welded at every joint. No rivets. No plastic. No shortcuts. The Fortress is our best-selling model. It features a locking retrieval door and a separate outgoing mail section with a slot cover, so your carrier can still deliver without a key. The Enforcer offers the same 1/4-inch steel construction in a more compact size, and The Senator adds a separate lockable package compartment for larger deliveries.

We have been building high-security locking mailboxes by hand in Grants Pass, Oregon since 1994. If you want to see how the models stack up, compare our mailbox options and pick the one that fits your property.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I report stolen mail to USPS?

File a complaint with the USPS Postal Inspection Service online at uspis.gov/report or by calling 1-877-876-2455. You will need your address, the date you noticed the mail was missing, and a description of what was taken.

Is stealing mail a federal offense?

Yes. Under 18 U.S.C. Section 1708, mail theft is a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison. This applies to any mail taken from any type of mailbox, including personal, community, and collection boxes.

Can I get reimbursed for stolen mail?

It depends on what was stolen. USPS offers claims for insured or Priority Mail Express packages through usps.com/help/claims.htm. For stolen checks, contact your bank to issue a stop payment and request replacement. Retailers will often reship stolen packages if you provide a police report and tracking information.

How do I know if someone is stealing my mail?

Common signs include expected mail that never arrives, Informed Delivery scans that do not match what you find in your box, tamper marks on your mailbox (bent door, scratches around the lock), bills or statements you stop receiving without explanation, and notifications about accounts or credit inquiries you did not initiate.

What is the best way to prevent mail theft?

The most effective prevention is a high-security locking mailbox made from heavy-gauge steel. Pair that with USPS Informed Delivery, prompt mail retrieval, and avoiding mailing outgoing checks from an unsecured box. A security camera near your mailbox can also deter theft and provide evidence if it occurs.