Thursday, January 13, 2011

How to ID Suspicious Mail and Packages

Due to events last week — when two parcels mailed to Maryland state offices and one package at the USPS government mail facility in Washington, DC, were found to contain incendiary material — postal employees are reminded to remain alert for suspicious mail and packages.
While the chances of encountering suspicious mail are very low, employees who identify a suspicious item should follow procedures and remember the Three Ps:

Package — Don’t handle the package. Isolate it.

People — Clear the area of people. Notify your supervisor.

Plan — Contact Postal Inspectors at 877-876-2455 (option 2) and, if smoke or vapors are present, call 911. Follow your emergency plan.

Employees should use Poster 84 as a guide in recognizing the characteristics of suspicious mail, including its shape, look, addressing and packaging.

Shape — Is it lopsided or uneven? Is it rigid or bulky?

Look — Are there oily stains, discolorations, or crystals on the wrapper? Does it have a strange odor?

Address — Is there a return address? Are there restrictive markings? Are there misspelled words? Is it addressed to a title rather than to an individual? Is it an incorrect title? Is it poorly typed or written?

Packaging — Is it sealed with tape? Is there excessive tape? Is there excessive postage?

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