Almost everyone handles mail almost every day. But, those responsible for carrying packages from point A to point B want you to know if the system is safe.
"As of Friday, the United States Postal Inspection Service is on high alert," said Postal Inspector, Reggie Wade.
Reggie Wade says watching the news the last two days has hit a bit too close to home. As United States postal inspector, he is charged with checking the mail, doing his part to ensure its safety.
"It bothers us, obviously, when someone tries to use the mail for these means, to terrorize people or to injure people," said Wade.
"The package had been described as popping, smoking and with a brief flash of fire and then it went out, it extinguished itself," said D.C. Metro Police Chief Cathy Lanier.
As police in Washington investigate the third incident in two days time, Wade, along with a team of 60 inspectors responsible for the Greater Philadelphia Region., are keeping a close eye.
Each is trained to respond to reports of suspicious packages, anything from unidentified powder, to envelopes that leak, tick or buzz. Once a report comes in, his agents go out.
"It's a high priority. The safety of our employees as well as the safety of our customers is our top priority," said Wade.
The US Postal Service handles about 175 billion pieces per year, finding, on average, one potentially dangerous item per 20 billion items sent. And, Wade says, 99% of those turn out to be false alarms.
In the last 5 years, there have been 13 reports of explosive parcels, resulting in 8 arrests; meaning that while the threat is real, the danger is remote.
"And when it does happen, in these rare instances, we're here to find, to investigate and to find the persons responsible for it, and send them to prison, which they will go to prison for a long time," said Wade.
Once caught, those responsible for sending these recent exploding packages could face up to 20 years in prison. And the punishment for sending a suspicious package that turns out to be a fake? At least 5 years behind bars.
