Binghamton Post Office Collection Box Security Questions

An overflowing mail collection box at a Binghamton post office gave would-be thieves easy access to dozens of envelopes that had been dropped off there.

The drive-up collection box at the Henry Street facility's exit was overstuffed with first-class mail Wednesday morning.

Many envelopes that had been jammed inside the large blue mailbox could easily have been removed by anyone who noticed the situation.

It's not known how long the security threat existed or whether any mail may have been stolen.

Mark Lawrence, U.S. Postal Service spokesman for upstate New York, was contacted by WNBF News.

After looking into the matter, he responded by email:

At some time after 6:30 p.m. last evening an oversized piece of mail was placed in the collection box subsequently impeding the path of mail placed in the box after this occurrence.  The resulting jam was cleared this morning.

The Postal Service has installed locking mechanisms on some drive-up mail collection boxes in other states in an effort to deter theft. Those locks have not been observed in the Binghamton area.

Post office officials and local law enforcement agencies do not routinely publicize mail theft cases.

The window of a mail delivery van was smashed as it was parked on Binghamton's North Side in April 2024. The United States Postal Service and city police did not say whether mail had been stolen from the vandalized vehicle.

Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or call (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.