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State Law

Texas SB 1281: Postal Arrow Keys

Updated the state’s mail theft statute to address current criminal trends, including large-scale theft of checks from the postal system and the growing black-market trade of stolen arrow keys used to access mailboxes.

Status: Passed State: Texas Tags: Check Fraud, Mail Theft

About the Legislation:

SB 1281:

  • Expands the legal definition of mail theft to include mail still in transit, not just after delivery.
  • Introduces a penalty structure tied to the number of stolen checks rather than the number of addresses, allowing more precise charges for large-scale operations.
  • Creates a specific offense for the theft of U.S. Postal Service arrow keys — tools increasingly targeted in violent robberies.
  • Includes a rebuttable presumption for theft involving five or more mail addresses — excluding legitimate business activities.

Read the Legislation

Any updates or new legislation should be sent to fraud@aba.com.

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