Looking to cast a wide net in the effort to combat recent reports of mail theft in neighborhoods across southern Queens, Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D – Howard Beach) is calling for federal law enforcement to work with local police precincts to stop the criminal activity.

“Mail fishing is a dangerous practice that not only robs families of their hard-earned income, but can also have serious consequences for their valuable personal information and medical records,” said Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder. “Our families deserve to know that their mail is safe and their personal information is secure when they drop a letter in the mail box. I urge the Postal Police to work with our local law enforcement and reel this dangerous practice in before more families fall victim.”

In a letter to U.S. Postal Inspection Service Chief Postal Inspector Guy Cottrell, Assemblyman Goldfeder urged the top mail police officer to step up efforts to combat reports of “mail fishing,” a practice that involves removing letters containing checks and valuable personal information from mail boxes on the street and in local businesses. Goldfeder cited recent high-profile stories of local gangs using the practice to fund elicit activities, as well as complaints from homeowners at the most recent Howard Beach Lindenwood Civic as cause for concern. The Assemblyman called on Inspector Cottrell to engage local NYPD precincts in efforts to combat the practice, echoing concerns from city law enforcement officials that mail theft crimes are not regularly reported to the NYPD.

Last month, the Queens County District Attorney charged Jamaica and Brooklyn-based members of a local gang with attempting to cash more than $33,500 in forged checks. According to a release, the gang members fished checks out of U.S. Postal Service mailboxes and “washed” them in order to remove the original payee’s name and currency amounts. In his letter, Goldfeder praised the Postal Police and the NYPD for their cooperation in this joint law enforcement effort. Goldfeder added that by regularly sharing reported cases with local law enforcement and continuing to collaborate on efforts to combat the practice, the federal agency could do a lot to protect area families.

“It’s like the old expression ‘there’s always more fish in the sea,’” concluded Goldfeder. “Except in this case, it’s a matter of assuming that there are many criminals that may still be out there fishing mail. That’s why it’s so important to utilize every possible tool at every level of government to stem this dangerous tide.”

(YWN Desk – NYC)