USPIS shared a video with KHOU 11 showing the recent arrests of alleged mail thieves at a Memorial City-area post office.
HOUSTON, Texas — Complaints about stolen mail from the post office on Town and Country Way — including property tax checks that were intercepted and “washed” — prompted the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to stake out a blue collection box.
One night last month, cameras captured a suspect breaking into the box while another person waited nearby in an SUV.
Seconds later, officers swooped in, surprising the suspects as they tried to drive away.
“Police, stop now!” one officer shouted. “Get out of the car now!”
Two men were arrested with 80 pieces of allegedly stolen mail — and investigators say that’s not all.
“We recovered nine keys — nine real postal keys,” said Postal Inspector Miguel Arispe.
Arispe said the keys had been previously lost, stolen, or otherwise obtained.
“You know, we’re just out there trying to combat mail theft,” he said.
The arrests are part of a broader effort. USPIS and other agencies are wrapping up a two-week enforcement surge targeting suspected mail thieves across the Houston area, where KHOU 11 has reported on numerous incidents in recent months.
“We’ve been flying postal inspectors in from across the country,” Arispe said. “They’ve come from New York, Los Angeles, and they’re here in Houston to help us fight and get a handle on mail theft.”
Some customers say they now avoid collection boxes altogether, choosing instead to drop off mail inside post office locations — especially when sending checks.
“That’s why I come inside,” said customer Dave Jag.
After watching video of the recent arrest, Jag said he was relieved to see enforcement action.
“I’m glad they were monitoring that — that’s horrible,” he said. “People are waiting on important items, whether it’s medicine, a gift, or something else. That’s mail fraud — a federal charge.”
In addition to theft from collection boxes, the two-week operation has also targeted locations such as illegal game rooms, which investigators say can serve as hubs for criminal activity, including mail theft.
USPIS is expected to release more details about the operation in the coming days.
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