Theft of property used by Postal Service
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
Whoever steals, purloins, or any property used by the Postal Service, or appropriates any such property to his own or any other than its proper use, or conveys away any such property to the hindrance or detriment of the public service, shall be or imprisoned not more than three years, or both; but if the value of such property does not exceed $1,000, he shall be or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
History: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 779 (PDF, 39 MB); Pub. L. 91–375, §6(j)(18), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 778 (PDF, 12 MB); Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(G), (H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147 (PDF, 52 MB); Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, §606(a), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3511.)
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime to steal, embezzle, or misuse any property used by the Postal Service, or take it away in a way that harms public service.