Stolen Post Office keys could be linked to surge in mail theft
Known as an "Arrow Key," the device allows postal workers to access all outdoor mailboxes in a ZIP code. However, criminals have increasingly sought to obtain the keys.
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Mail theft has become a major problem across New York and the nation, and law enforcement officials say one small piece of equipment plays a major role in many of the crimes.
Known as an "Arrow Key," the device allows postal workers to access all outdoor mailboxes in a ZIP code. However, criminals have increasingly sought to obtain the keys.
For victims like Mike LoMonico, the consequences can be devastating. LoMonico said one of his checks was stolen from the mail, altered and fraudulently cashed for nearly $5,000.
"They need a new system. They need to figure this out. There's got to be a better way," LoMonico said.
According to data from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, 78 Arrow Keys were stolen in New York state last year, more than the total number stolen during all previous years combined since 2021.
The keys can be sold online or even counterfeited, creating additional security concerns.
Frank Albergo, executive director of the Postal Police Officers Association, said the system is long overdue for modernization.
"The Arrow Key system was created in 1922. So it's over a century old," Albergo said. "That's technology from over a century ago. It's basically a piece of tin. They're easily counterfeited."
The Postal Inspection Service declined an on-camera interview but said in a statement that more than 4,500 arrests have been made in connection with mail theft and postal robberies since 2023.
Officials also said the Postal Service has deployed thousands of high-security collection boxes and tens of thousands of electronic locking mechanisms nationwide. The agency said the technology allows officials to effectively deactivate stolen keys and block unauthorized access to mail.
The upgraded systems are being used in all 50 states, but some customers remain skeptical.
"Somebody's got to be able to figure out how to stop this," LoMonico said.
