Mail thefts by postal workers increase in Alabama

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Alabama has seen a significant increase in the number of charges for the theft of mail by postal workers.

Reports state that there were 17 federal charges filed against postal workers for theft of mail between 2002 and 2006. There have been 33 from 2007 to present.
The charges against postal workers for destruction of mail also jumped from 12 to 33 during the same years.
Union officials and lawyers had no explanation for the increase. But one thing has changed in that period. The Postal Service's Office of Inspector General assumed full jurisdiction for investigating internal mail thefts in October 2006.