NCJ Number
176769
Journal
Security Management Volume: 42 Issue: 11 Dated: November 1998 Pages: 61-62-66
Date Published
1998
Length
4 pages
Annotation
The corporate mail room is a major gateway into any business or government agency and requires a two-part security program to prevent and address fraud and theft.
Abstract
The typical corporate mail room handles hundreds or thousands of packages each day. Nevertheless, many security managers overlook security procedures for this crucial center. The first component of the mail room security program is the development of a plan to safeguard the mail room against theft, fraud, and other crimes. The second component is to train mail room employees on mail screening techniques to protect the company against the small possibility of a mail bomb. Location and design are important components of a mail room security program. The mail room should be located at street level, away from most other operations. Preemployment screening should take place for all potential mail room employees. The mail center should have security procedures and internal controls that reduce the opportunity for anyone to steal. The security manager should also perform a vulnerability assessment to determine whether an organization or a particular employee is a potential target of a mail bomb. Further actions should include appointing someone in the mail room as a security coordinator, establishing screening procedures that allow employees to identify packages that may contain an explosive device, taking appropriate steps if an item is suspicious, and using verification and isolation procedures for suspicious items. Additional actions should include staff training and unannounced tests for mail center personnel. Illustration