Know the Warning Signs of Suspicious Packages

Supervisor Josephina Davis, right, and Michelle Frazee process one of about 500 packages that come through the HQ mailroom every day.

The Exchange handles about 50 million packages and letters on a yearly basis, especially during the holidays. Nearly all the packages and letters are safe, but do you know how to spot a suspicious parcel and what to do if you see one?

Recently, U.S. Postal Inspector Trey Knipfing briefed HQ teammates on how to identify and report a suspicious or potentially dangerous parcel. Knipfing warned that if anyone sees a suspicious package or letter, they should leave it alone and alert their managers and security immediately. Do not panic, he emphasized.

What are the red flags?

Here is a poster from the U.S. Post Service that tells you all the red flags.

Suspicious packages may bear one or more of these red flags.

Smells only like perfume? Check it out anyway

Additionally, just because a package bears some of these characteristics does not automatically make it hazardous. For instance, the “leaking liquid” or “strange order” may be soft drink or perfume from a broken bottle inside the package, but always check it out, Knipfing said.

The poster above is available here for printing, distributing to associates and thumbtacking to bulletin boards and elsewhere to draw awareness to suspicious packages.