Theft of Mail 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1708 (First Paragraph) is a federal crime that involves the taking of mail from private individuals or the United States Postal Service. There are two types of Theft of Mail 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1708 (First Paragraph): criminal and civil theft. Criminal theft involves taking mail with the intent to permanently deprive the intended recipient of the mail. Civil theft involves taking mail without the intent to permanently deprive the intended recipient, and typically involves taking mail in order to read or tamper with its contents. The punishment for Theft of Mail 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1708 (First Paragraph) can vary depending on the nature of the offense and can include fines, jail time, and/or restitution.