Late last month, a postal worker was assaulted at the San Bruno, California Post Office, but the attackers seemed more interested in the mail rather than valuables like wallets or cell phones.
The suspects reportedly took four bathtubs, stuffed them into a silver Lexus, and drove off. Federal authorities are offering a reward of up to $150,000 for tips that lead to an arrest and conviction. Postal officials are advising customers who have used local branches or collection boxes recently to monitor their bank and credit card accounts for unusual activity.
Meanwhile, in Chicago, there have been reports of street gangs attempting to recruit postal workers since 2017.
Just three days ago, another postal worker was punched outside a post office in nearby San Leandro. Authorities have similarly placed a reward of $150,000 for information on this incident.
dog eats dog
For a long time, dogs have posed the most significant threat to mail carriers. In fact, over 5,200 postal employees were attacked by dogs last year. To counter this, carriers are trained to use their mailbags as shields and carry dog repellents.
However, nowadays, workers have more pressing concerns than just local pets.
Robberies targeting postal employees are on the rise. In 2019, roughly 90 cases were reported across the country, but by 2023, that number skyrocketed to about 600, with many involving firearms.
But what’s driving this sudden spike in postal robberies?
Well, part of the answer is pretty clear. The contents of the mail have significant value. Stolen checks can be altered or cashed, and financial documents can be used for various fraud schemes. Gaining access to a mail container opens up numerous opportunities for thieves.
Moreover, some criminals have realized that postal workers carry something even more valuable than letters: arrow keys.
risky deposit
Arrow keys are crucial master keys that permit mail carriers to access secure collection boxes along their routes. While stealing mail gives access to the contents within, having the right key allows thieves to access multiple mailboxes repeatedly, making it a more lucrative target.
The calculation criminals make isn’t hard to grasp. Postal workers tend to follow predictable routes, often working alone and on foot. They likely carry checks, credit cards, financial paperwork, and keys that can unlock numerous secure mailboxes. Compared to bank heists or armored truck robberies, attacking postal workers can appear much simpler for criminals looking to find quick financial gain.
Once criminals seize the mail, physical documents can be easily exploited in various scams. Stolen checks can be tampered with or resold, while cards can be intercepted before being delivered. Personal data found in mail can also be merged with information acquired from other sources.
This change has caused the postal service—historically meant to handle things like birthday cards and utility bills—to unwittingly become part of a thriving criminal network.
pen pal
Of course, there are drawbacks to attacking postal workers; it attracts federal law enforcement attention, resulting in harsh penalties and potential witnesses.
So some organized criminals have found another route: instead of robbing postal workers, why not recruit them?
The Inspector General of the United States Postal Service has alerted that criminal groups are targeting postal employees because of their unique access to the postal system.
In 2022, a Missouri mail carrier, Cambria Hopkins, sold her arrow keys to a criminal and informed them about the donation boxes she serviced. She then stole checks from the mail and sold them, receiving payment via Cash App as well as food. Earlier this year, she was sentenced to just over a year in federal prison.
package deals
The stakes involved can be quite high. For instance, in Mobile, Alabama, postal worker Karaijah Tomeko Lanier-Lewis was arrested alongside Brian Christopher Williams III for a check fraud scheme. Lewis stole several hundred business checks made out to a P.O. Box. Investigators observed her sorting the mail and deciding which checks to keep. Williams paid her between $2,000 and $3,000 for each batch.
In June 2023, Lewis was found stuffing bundles of stolen checks into her pants, and authorities later arrested Williams at a gas station where he had $10,000 in cash. They also discovered drugs, a handgun, and checks worth $417,000 in various forms.
Over the course of their unlawful activities, they manipulated stolen checks worth over $17 million and sold them through illicit channels. Lewis was given a five-year federal prison sentence, while Williams received an eight-year sentence alongside a restitution order of over $234,000.
bogus express
Now in Chicago, gang members have been enlisting postal workers. In one instance, a young delivery worker was approached by a gang member while she was grocery shopping in her USPS uniform, who offered her extra cash for taking certain envelopes.
She initially complied, smuggling out stolen mail while on duty or after work. Initially, she was compensated handsomely but soon found that the money began to dry up, and she even faced threats when she attempted to withdraw from the arrangement.
This operation expanded to include 35 postal workers and 13 external accomplices, impacting over 200 postal codes and affecting more than 10,300 victims. Checks, credit cards, Treasury checks, cash, and personal information were at stake, with some employees caught leaving with garbage bags full of mail.
Investigators estimated the total loss exceeded $6 million, coupled with an additional intentional loss of around $46.6 million. In the end, 27 individuals were convicted, with the ringleader sentenced to nine years in federal prison.
return to sender
The postal service is fighting back by enhancing security measures—replacing weak locks, installing more secure collection boxes, and considering digital alternatives for traditional arrow keys.
However, shaking off the allure of tangible goods is not easy. Each day, the extensive delivery network transports checks, credit cards, and other valuables directly to neighborhoods, often relying on individual employees working independently.
As generations of Americans have learned, nothing—not even snow, rain, or the dark of night—can deter these delivery workers from completing their routes swiftly.
Maybe it’s time for a new adage. The robbers are not just targeting mail carriers; they’re also setting their sights on their keys.
And clearly, there are now criminal recruiters eager to make betrayal seem enticing.
