There have been six mailman robberies in Central Ohio since November.
Columbus, Ohio — It happened again: Another mailman was robbed at gunpoint in Columbus. This time downtown on the corner of South 5th Avenue and East Engler Street.
The suspect stuck a handgun into the mailman’s stomach and demanded the keys, according to the Columbus Police Department.
Detectives say the thief is stealing the keys to get the mail containing the check. These checks are laundered or changed to a new name and denomination and cashed at a bank.
In January 2022 alone, more than 500 checks were stolen from Ohioans and sold online, according to the U.S. Postal Service.
10TV has reached out to the US Postal Inspection Service about the latest crime and what they are doing to prevent it.
“Fortunately, the mailman was not injured. Postal inspectors and local law enforcement responded to the scene and surveyed the area. A U.S. Postal Inspection Service spokesperson is working with local law enforcement partners to track all leads.
Crime has already been reported in German Village, Whitehall and Gahanna.
The Postal Inspection Service said, “We are aware of the significant increase in mail theft and carrier robbery and are working diligently to address this and have developed a national strategy to address this. We are hiring,” he said.
The agency told 10TV how this was handled.
- Improved physical security of mail collection boxes, including a pilot project to test enhanced security locks
- Work closely with local and state law enforcement to step up patrol arrests whenever we discover mail theft or an increase in information sharing and reporting
- Maintaining a strong partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice in investigating and prosecuting mail theft and violent crimes affecting postal workers
- Posting additional Postal Inspection Service personnel in areas where mail robbery and mail theft are common
- Utilization of the Postal Service’s reward system, which provides financial rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of criminals.
The postman’s safety is reaching the halls of the country’s capital.
In response to the robbery, Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) said, “This is unacceptable and I call on postal leaders to take action, including the resignation of Postmaster DeJoy. ‘ sent a statement.
Last year, Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown (D, Ohio) wrote to the Postal Inspectorate saying, “In the face of increasingly widespread, costly and dangerous armed mail robberies and mail thefts, postal police officers are (PPO) asked to restore patrol duties.”
The request came after Mr. Brown said he learned that the USPS had changed its patrols, “limiting its presence at postal facilities and prohibiting it from patrolling mail delivery routes.”
Zaire White is about to enter his seventh year as a postman.
10TV asked about the robbery if they felt safe walking around their neighborhood or delivering mail.
“I’m here alone for about 10 hours a day. It scares you and makes you nervous,” he said.
White says he was warned by his boss about what to do if these robberies approached.
“If they come up to us with guns, give them what they want. We’re not going to fight for it.”
White said the crooks are targeting the arrow keys.
“This little key here is just what they want. “I’m trying to find it,” he said.
If you have information about the latest mailman robbery, call the Columbus Police Department at 614-645-4545.
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