Congressman Josh Harder Introduces Bill to Increase Penalties for Mail Theft in Northern San Joaquin Valley
Congressman Josh Harder, a Democrat representing Tracy, has introduced new legislation aimed at combating mail theft in the Northern San Joaquin Valley. The proposed bill, titled the 'Mail Theft and Postal Key Crime Prevention Act,' seeks to enhance penalties for individuals convicted of mail theft, postal key crimes, and fraud. Additionally, it aims to expand the personnel dedicated to mail theft investigations across federal judicial districts nationwide. The initiative comes in response to a significant rise in mail theft, with nearly a million complaints reported nationally since 2023. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) San Francisco division, which covers areas like Stockton, has reported some of the highest rates of mail theft complaints in the country over the past three years. Harder's office has received numerous reports of stolen packages, checks, vandalized cluster mailboxes, and identity fraud resulting from these crimes. The bill specifically directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to i... 
