Three men are facing charges after being accused of stealing nearly 5 million dollars worth of checks from U.S. Postal Service collection boxes across Suffolk County, according to the Suffolk District Attorney.
Prosecutors say the men took checks, money orders and gift cards from boxes at 20 different post offices, part of a scheme that spanned the county.
According to authorities, the suspects fished for mail using a sticky glue trap, a method used to pull envelopes out of the collection boxes.
Officials said roughly 6,700 checks were taken between early 2025 and April of this year, before the scheme was uncovered and charges were brought.
The three men charged in the scheme are all from the city, according to authorities, and each faces up to seven years behind bars if convicted.
Investigators said mail theft of this kind has seen a resurgence, and urged anyone who believes their mail was stolen to contact police and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.