Penalty stealing mail

You're referring to the crime of stealing mail, also known as mail theft or postal theft. It's a serious offense that can have significant consequences for the victims, including identity theft, financial loss, and emotional distress.

In the United States, mail theft is a federal crime under Title 18, Section 1702 of the United States Code, which states that "Whoever takes or opens with intent to steal, or abstracts with intent to steal, the contents of any mail, or of any package, post-office package, or bag, taken or delivered by any common carrier or railroad company, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both."

The penalties for mail theft can vary depending on the circumstances of the crime and the individual's criminal history. Some possible penalties include:

  1. Fine: The court can impose a fine of up to $250,000 or more.
  2. Imprisonment: The court can sentence the offender to imprisonment for up to five years or more.
  3. Restitution: The court can order the offender to pay restitution to the victims for any losses or damages caused by the theft.
  4. Community service: The court can sentence the offender to community service, such as cleaning up public areas or performing other community service tasks.

In addition to these penalties, mail thieves can also face civil penalties, such as lawsuits from victims who have suffered financial losses as a result of the theft.

To prevent mail theft, it's important to take steps to secure your mail and packages, such as:

  1. Using a secure mailbox or post office box.
  2. Tracking your packages and monitoring their delivery status.
  3. Signing up for delivery confirmation or signature upon delivery.
  4. Reporting any suspicious activity or mail theft to the authorities.
  5. Shredding any unnecessary documents or mail to prevent identity theft.

If you're a victim of mail theft, you should report the incident to the United States Postal Service (USPS) and your local law enforcement agency. The USPS has a dedicated hotline for reporting mail theft, which can be reached at 1-877-876-2455.