Sacramento, California – U.S. Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06) is demanding immediate action and responsibility following the publication of a disturbing new audit report from the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (OIG). Requested by Rep. Bera in reaction to a growing number of mail theft complaints from Sacramento County residents, the audit uncovers significant problems in how local postal facilities are managing and securing the mail.
The report claims three significant postal sites in Sacramento County—the Sacramento Main Post Office on Royal Oaks Drive, the Fort Sutter Station on Alhambra Boulevard, and the Rancho Cordova Post Office on Progress Court—failed to properly manage their arrow key inventories, did not track the ownership status of centralized mailbox units (CBUs), and neglected required safety inspections of collection and relay boxes. Particularly vulnerable tools are arrow keys, which permit access to big clusters of mailboxes. If lost or misused, they can provide thieves simple access to volumes of mails.
“Despite extensive collaborative efforts from my office with USPS and USPIS to address the persistent concerns raised by constituents, the findings of this audit are completely unacceptable,” said Representative Bera.
“The audit identified serious systemic issues including missing and unaccounted-for arrow keys, inadequate oversight and a troubling lack of mandatory inspections. The Postal Service must immediately implement the Inspector General’s recommendations to restore public trust and ensure that Sacramento County residents have the secure and reliable mail services they deserve.”
The audit reveals a lack of efficient mechanism to track whether a CBU is owned and managed by the Postal Service or by a private entity, hence causing uncertainty about responsibility and maintenance. The OIG’s investigation revealed that annual mandated inspections of mailboxes—including blue collecting boxes, green relay boxes, and CBUs—were not conducted at the three sites under consideration. These inspections are intended to guarantee the boxes stay in good shape and safe from tampering or damage.
The finding of unaccounted-for arrow keys is potentially most concerning. The report mentions recordkeeping and monitoring errors that have left the sites unable to account for multiple keys—a scenario that significantly raises the possibility of large-scale mail theft.
For Sacramento County residents, these problems are more than just operational glitches; they have led to real consequences. Residents have noted an increase in stolen or tampered-with mail, broken boxes, and missing shipments over the last year. For some, this has meant misplaced prescriptions, postponed bill payments, or sensitive personal information landing in the wrong hands.
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According to Bera, the safety and reliability of our mail system isn’t just a convenience — it’s a lifeline for people who depend on it for paychecks, prescriptions, and critical communication. Bera also said the Postal Service had to act on the recommendations right away, without waiting.
The audit consists of a series of Inspector General’s office suggestions to address the shortcomings. Among these are implementing required safety inspections, differentiating between postal-owned and private mailboxes, and setting appropriate tracking systems for arrow keys. USPS management will be expected to provide evidence of compliance under specified clear implementation dates.
Rep. Bera has promised to closely monitor how the Postal Service reacts. His office intends to keep cooperating with the Postal Inspection Service and USPS management to make sure not only are corrective actions taken but also completely carried out.
The results of this audit have highlighted the need of greater protections all around beginning with responsibility in Sacramento as the USPS comes under increasing pressure to change its internal procedures.
You can find the full audit report here.