US Representative Grace Meng announced last week that she is addressing the recent spike in mail theft occurring across Kew Gardens Hills.
After the Congresswoman received complaints about green relay boxes in the area that were broken into, she personally called the manager of the Kew Gardens Hills Post Office on Main Street.
Meng expressed her concerns, and the manager assured her that several steps are being taken to combat the problem.
Meng also met with the NYPD 107th Precinct outside the Post Office, and she has been in touch with the US Postal Inspection Service.
“Mail theft is a despicable and unacceptable crime,” said Meng. “Tackling this issue in Kew Gardens Hills and throughout Queens has been a top priority of mine, and it will continue to be until the issue is resolved. My constituents deserve to receive their letters, bills, medications, and financial statements in a safe and secure manner. I thank the manager of the Kew Gardens Hills Post Office for speaking with me, and I thank the NYPD and postal inspectors for being on the front lines in addressing the problem. If constituents have been a victim of mail theft or see it taking place, it is important that they report it as soon as possible.”
Green relay boxes are used to store mail and are often located next to blue collection boxes throughout the borough. Over the past few years, these types of boxes have been targeted by thieves who have stolen mail containing checks, prescriptions, bank and credit card statements, and other personal and sensitive information. Oftentimes, this information is used to steal money and identity data from Queens residents.
The Congresswoman also renewed her call for more secure boxes in Queens, including relay and collection boxes in the borough.
Last year, Meng secured the first-ever federal probe into mail theft in Queens, and the investigation revealed numerous issues with how the Postal Service was addressing the problem. This audit made several recommendations that are now being implemented, and these improvements include enhanced security for boxes. The full implementation of the recommendations is now expected to be completed at the end of October.
In addition, Meng is leading bipartisan legislation that seeks to strengthen the Postal Service’s ability to go after criminal networks that are driving the theft of mail.
On a related matter, Meng last week got the Postal Service to remove anti-Israel graffiti that was discovered on a Kew Gardens Hills relay box located on the corner of Jewel Avenue and Kissena Boulevard. The graffiti was removed after the Congresswoman contacted the agency about it, and she also spoke with the NYPD regarding the incident.
