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Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73not60

§1704 Keys or Locks Stolen or Reproduced

Title 18 › Part I— CRIMES › Chapter 83— POSTAL SERVICE › § 1704

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

It is a crime to steal, take by trick, embezzle, make, forge, or illegally have any key used by the Post Office Department or the Postal Service for mail, mailbags, mailboxes, or other approved mail receptacles. It is also illegal for a contractor who makes these locks or keys to give them to anyone who is not properly authorized, unless that person is the contracted supplier, manufacturer, or their agent. A person who breaks these rules can be fined under federal law, jailed for up to 10 years, or both.

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §1704

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Whoever steals, purloins, embezzles, or obtains by false pretense any key suited to any lock adopted by the Post Office Department or the Postal Service and in use on any of the mails or bags thereof, or any key to any lock box, lock drawer, or other authorized receptacle for the deposit or delivery of mail matter; or Whoever knowingly and unlawfully makes, forges, or counterfeits any such key, or possesses any such mail lock or key with the intent unlawfully or improperly to use, sell, or otherwise dispose of the same, or to cause the same to be unlawfully or improperly used, sold, or otherwise disposed of; or Whoever, being engaged as a contractor or otherwise in the manufacture of any such mail lock or key, delivers any finished or unfinished lock or the interior part thereof, or key, used or designed for use by the department, to any person not duly authorized under the hand of the Postmaster General and the seal of the Post Office Department or the Postal Service, to receive the same, unless the person receiving it is the contractor for furnishing the same or engaged in the manufacture thereof in the manner authorized by the contract, or the agent of such manufacturer— Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 314 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 191, 35 Stat. 1125). Reference to persons aiding, causing or assisting was omitted. Such persons are principals under section 2 of this title. Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative. Minor changes were made in phraseology.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $500” in last par. 1970—Pub. L. 91–375 inserted “or the Postal Service” after “Post Office Department” in first and third pars.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1970 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 91–375 effective within 1 year after Aug. 12, 1970, on date established therefor by Board of Governors of United States Postal Service and published by it in Federal Register, see section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375, set out as an

Effective Date

note preceding section 101 of Title 39, Postal Service.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

18 U.S.C. § 1704

Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60