Robberies of postal carriers have surged 78% to nearly 500 in 2022, according to data from the US Postal Inspection Service. Many of these attacks involve the use of weapons, with 31 postal carriers injured and one killed last year.
The National Association of Letter Carriers is demanding action, while the Postal Service is implementing new measures to address the issue, including enhancing collection box key and lock technology and dual authentication.
Criminals are becoming more sophisticated and organised, with some targeting the special keys that carriers use to access collection boxes and to deliver mail in apartment buildings. The Postal Service is briefing congressional committees on its responses to postal crime.
