Bill to make mail theft a felony in Virginia headed to governor’s desk

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A bill aiming to heighten the severity of punishments for mail theft is now headed to Gov. Glenn Youngkin's desk after it was passed by the Virginia House on Thursday.

This proposed legislation comes as mail issues continue to plague Central Virginia and the topic remains at the top of many people's minds. SB939 passed its first hurdle in the Virginia Senate on Feb. 3. On Thursday, Feb. 13, it was unanimously passed by the Virginia House of Delegates.

Introduced by Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim (D-Fairfax), the bill would make mail theft punishable as a Class 6 felony in Virginia. Currently, mail theft is classified just as a federal crime. This change, which has garnered bipartisan support, would give more power to Virginia prosecutors.

According to Virginia's Legislative Informational System, offenders include anyone who knowingly -- and with the intent to defraud another -- takes, destroys, hides or embezzles mail or obtains that mail by fraud or deception.

This legislation also pertains to the theft of any key the individual knows -- or reasonably should know -- belongs to the U.S. Postal Service and is used to access postal receptacles.

The bill also addresses those who damage, open, remove, injure, vandalize or destroy any mail receptacle knowingly and with the intent to steal mail inside. Under this proposed legislation, offenders could face five years behind bars.

A similar bill from the House of Delegates is currently awaiting passage in the Senate.

For a full look at the bill and its current status, visit the Legislative Information System.