Graduation season is prime time for mail thieves. Tips for stopping them

These days, cash exchanges are increasingly rare. Many establishments are switching to cashless systems, and the increasing popularity of electronic payment options like Venmo and Apple Pay have turned even casual cash exchanges digital.

But sometimes, there’s nothing like cold, hard cash. There’s something about opening up a card with cash inside on a special occasion.

For the sake of tradition, celebratory cards fly off the shelves during graduation season, and many are stuffed with cash, checks or gift cards.

But with a guaranteed increase in valuable mail comes an increase in mailbox theft. Here’s what to know about protecting your monetary gifts.

Mailbox theft during graduation season

Across the country, there are certain hot periods for mail theft. The holiday season is particularly popular for mailbox thieves, when many packages are shipped. There’s also an uptick around tax season, and another during graduation season.

Additionally, there has been an increase in mail theft overall in recent years. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s most recent report states there has been an 87% increase in high-volume mail theft from 2019 to 2022. Mail carriers are getting robbed more often, too.

Just in Washington state, there have been several cases related to mail theft this year, including the sentencing of a Tacoma area USPS supervisor who stole gift cards and cash, the armed robbery of a mail carrier near Spanaway and the arrest of two repeat mail thieves in Olympia.

While the majority of letters and packages arrive at their intended destination with no hiccups, according to the USPIS, your mail could still be compromised at any point in the process.

So how can you protect yourself?

Preventing mail theft

There are various methods you can use to prevent mail theft. If you’re sending mail, consider leaving out the valuables when you can. Send money or gift cards digitally for more protection.

When sending packages, communicate with the recipient so you know if the package wasn’t delivered on time. They can also use the USPS Hold Mail Service if they won’t be home at the time of delivery.

For receiving mail, local police recommend never leaving mail to sit overnight. Or for extra protection, consider a mailbox with a lock.

“My biggest tip is check your mail daily, don’t let it just sit there,” said Sergeant Steven Warren with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office in an interview with the Herald. “The less time it sits out in your mailbox, the less chance there is for predators to take the mail.”

You can also sign up for USPS’s Informed Delivery service for emails about your mail before delivery.

If you suspect your mail has been stolen, or you’re the victim of another mail-related crime, make a report with the USPIS.

This story was originally published May 31, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Graduation season is prime time for mail thieves. Tips for stopping them."