Holiday Readiness



Postal Inspectors are mandated to protect each one of your special holiday cards and packages. We ensure the billions of pieces of mail getting sent this season arrive unopened, unread, and intact. Postal Inspectors, Postal Police Officers, and our specialized support staff work tirelessly to ensure your gifts and well wishes get to their destinations securely. But we could use your help. Check out the Mail & Package Theft page for ideas to keep your mail and packages safe.  For more tips, please visit TIPS & PREVENTION. We deliver security for the price of a stamp.

Click Here to View Holiday Press Kit

Read More About How Postal Inspectors Deliver Security

Fireworks PSA

Fireworks PSA

Think sending fireworks through the mail to celebrate the end of 2020 is legal? Think again…It's definitely not!

Fireworks PSA Transcript

  • Prohibited Mail Items

    Lithium Batteries PSA
    Does that cool tech gift you plan on sending contain a lithium battery? Is it OK to send? Before you head to the Post Office, check out this video.


    Lithium Batteries PSA Transcript

    Mercury PSA
    Is that antique thermometer or barometer safe to mail? Before you head to the Post Office, check out this video.


    Mercury PSA Transcript

  • Package Theft Prevention

    Package Theft PSA
    Learn how to keep your packages safe this holiday season.


    Package Theft PSA Transcript

  • Holiday Scams

    Secret Sister Pyramid Scheme
    The holiday season is a prime time for gift exchange scams. One of the most popular scams is the Secret Sister scam. You may think you are sending holiday cheer, but what you may actually be doing is providing your address and other PII to strangers who are preying upon your good will. Learn how to protect yourself from this and other pyramid schemes HERE and by viewing this video.


    Secret Sister Pyramid Scheme Transcript

  • Holiday Tips

    Monitor Front Door PSA
    Expecting holiday mail and packages? Make sure if you have home security cameras that they capture activity at your front door and mailbox.

    Monitor Front Door PSA Transcript

    Special Service PSA
    Before you send those last-minute holiday packages, remember to use USPS special services, such as Signature Confirmation and Registered Mail.

    Special Service PSA Transcript

    Unattended Package PSA
    Holiday packages left for long periods of time in mailboxes and on doorsteps make tempting targets for package thieves.

    Unattended Package PSA Transcript

    Customize Delivery PSA
    As you get those Cyber Monday deals, make sure your packages get to their destination safely. One way is by customizing the delivery.

    Customize Delivery PSA Transcript

    Hold Mail PSA
    If you plan on traveling during the holidays, hold your mail & packages at your local Post Office.

    Hold Mail PSA Transcript

USPS OPERATION SANTA®

The Postal Inspection Service supports USPS Operation Santa®, the one-hundred-year-old Postal program that brings joy to hundreds of children during the holiday season. Learn more about USPS Operation Santa®, and visit the official website to get started.

Delivering Security for the Price of a Stamp

IN FISCAL YEAR 2019, POSTAL INSPECTORS ARRESTED ALMOST 2,000 SUSPECTS FOR THEFT OF THE MAIL AND PACKAGES.

Protect Yourself

Follow and share these tips to protect yourself this holiday season.

  • Don’t leave your delivered mail and packages unattended

     

    You wouldn’t leave important items sitting on the front seat of your unlocked car overnight. So, please don’t leave your mail and packages sitting in mailboxes or on front porches for any length of time.

     

  • Going out of town? Hold your mail at your local Post Office location.

     

    You can sign up for Hold Mail service on usps.com if you plan on being away from home or you know you won’t be able to check your mail for a few days. Your letters and packages will be held securely at your Post Office location until you pick them up or request they be delivered to your home.

     

  • Plan ahead. Ship using Hold for Pickup

     

    If you are sending gifts or other important items, you can choose the Hold for Pickup option on usps.com. The packages will be safely held at the recipient’s local Post Office location until they can pick it up. If you are expecting a package, and won’t be there to retrieve it, you can redirect it to your local Post Office location by selecting Hold for Pickup using Intercept a Package under Track & Manage on usps.com.

     

  • Customize the delivery

     

    If you are expecting something you know will not fit in your mailbox and you don’t think you will be home to receive it, you can authorize the carrier to leave it in a specified location. Visit usps.com, enter the tracking number in Track a Package, and select Delivery Instructions.

     

  • Secure the shipment using USPS Special Services

     

    Signature Confirmation helps ensure the package ends up in the right hands by requiring a first initial and last name at the time of delivery. For your most valuable packages, you can opt for Registered Mail service. Registered Mail receives special handling from the time it’s mailed until the time it’s delivered, with documentation every step of the way.

     

  • Monitor your front door

     

    If you have a home security camera system, make sure it captures activity at your front door and mailbox. If you catch any mail thieves in the act, save the video and alert your local Postal Inspectors. Video surveillance goes a long way in preventing crimes and catching bad guys.

     

READY TO ANSWER THE CALL?

Explore our application and requirements to learn how you can join our mission.

LEARN MORE