AUSTIN, Texas — Texas lawmakers are looking at new ways to crack down on mail theft.
The Senate Committee on Criminal Justice took up SB 1281 on Tuesday.
It would expand the state’s current mail theft statute, adding a specific offense for stealing mail keys or mailbox locks. It would also strengthen the law to protect Texans against financial crimes and identity fraud, if things like financial documents get taken from mailboxes.
According to an audit from 2023, the U.S. Postal Service loses millions of arrow keys every year, and that leads to people losing sensitive mail.
Supporters of the bill say this expansion will give law enforcement more tools to crack down on a growing problem.
“Since the stakes are higher than ever, and the dollars at risk are tens of millions of dollars annually, it’s imperative that law enforcement be given additional tools for enforcement to stop these fraudsters,” said Lin Bearden, chief lending officer at Texas Bank.
The committee voted out SB 1281 on Tuesday. It heads to the full Senate for approval.