Suspicious Mail Items

Suspicious Mail Items

In past years there have been reported cases where the mail stream has been used by unscrupulous individuals to send explosive devices. These devices are designed to detonate only when the letter or parcel is opened and the contents are being removed. Most often it is in the hands of the intended victim, and the senders of these mail bombs take precautions to ensure that the items reach their victims.

It is important to remember that an explosive device can be enclosed in either an envelope or a parcel, and the outward appearance may not easily identify the contents. However, mail bombs have some unique characteristics. The following information, provided by the Canada Post Corporation, may assist you in identifying a suspicious mail item, and avoid a serious situation.

A combination of the following constitutes a suspicious mail item:

·  Mail bombs may be addressed to specific individuals and could bear restricted endorsements such as "PERSONAL", "PRIVATE", "TO BE OPENED ONLY BY", etc;

·  Addressee's name and/or title may be inaccurate;

·  No return address or the return address may be fictitious and/or even indecipherable;

·  Mail bombs may display distorted handwriting, or the name and address may be prepared with home made labels or cut-and-paste lettering;

·  Mail bombs may have protruding wires, aluminium foil, oil, or grease stains on the wrapping, and can emit a peculiar odour;

·  Cancellation or post marks may indicate a different location than the return address or that the item was mailed from a foreign country;

·  Excessive amounts of postage using low denominations;

·  Excessive wrapping, binding, taping, and tying material’

·  Parcel bombs may be unprofessionally wrapped with several combinations of tape used to secure the package, and may be endorsed "FRAGILE - HANDLE WITH CARE", or "RUSH - DO NOT DELAY";

·  Letter bombs may feel rigid or appear uneven or lopsided;

·  Parcel bombs may have an irregular shape with soft spots or bulges; and/or

·  Parcel bombs may have a buzzing or ticking noise or a sloshing sound.

IF YOU ARE SUSPICIOUS OF AN ITEM:

·  DO NOT OPEN IT;

·  Isolate the item and evacuate the immediate area;

·  Do not put the item in water, or a confined space such as a desk drawer or filing cabinet;

·  If possible, open windows in the immediate area to assist in ventilating potential explosive gases; and

·  If you have any reason to believe an item is suspicious, contact your immediate supervisor, who will in turn notify the proper authorities.