Elkins Park Post Office temporarily removes drop-off mailboxes, theft-deterrent version coming soon

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June 5th, 2023 | By Ryan Genova

As part of Project Safe Delivery, the Elkins Park Post Office at 1800 Ashbourne Road has temporarily removed their Blue Collection mailbox due to an increase in mail theft.

“A new box is going to be installed in the near future,” Paul Smith, spokesperson for USPS, said. “It was broken into last Sunday so the inspection service is working with the local police to investigate the matter.”

The USPS was uncertain as to when exactly the new box would be in place.

“The postal service is really looking to try to curb theft. As the years go by, we try to upgrade our equipment. Hopefully this will be effective,” Smith said.

In May, the USPS announced that it will be replacing 12,000 Blue Collection Boxes across the country to ensure the mail is protected. From the announcement:

Expanded Project Safe Delivery actions include:

  • Reducing Letter Carrier Robberies and Mail Theft – As part of Project Safe Delivery, USPS and USPIS are taking action to harden physical targets against criminal activity and reduce criminal acts against postal employees including:
    • 12,000 High Security Blue Collection Boxes To Be Installed Nationwide. The Postal Service is hardening blue collection boxes making access to their contents more difficult for criminals.These boxes are now being deployed in high security risk areas through the next fiscal year. The Postal Service will continue to evaluate replacing additional existing blue collection boxes with these enhanced boxes.
    • 49,000 Electronic Locks to Replace Antiquated Arrow Locks. There has been an increase in letter carrier robberies nationwide where criminals are targeting letter carriers for their Arrow and Modified Arrow Lock (MAL) Keys. Criminals use Arrow and MAL keys to steal mail from secure mail receptacles to commit financial crimes, including altering checks to commit check fraud. To make Arrow Keys less valuable for criminals, the Postal Service will replace 49,000 antiquated arrow locks with electronic locks. New locks have been installed in select cities with installation to occur in additional major metropolitan areas soon. The Postal Service and the Postal Inspection Service are also increasing Arrow Key accountability reviews in select high Postal crime areas.


For the Elkins Park office’s retail hours and services offered, you can click here.

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