A mail carrier was assaulted and robbed at gunpoint in northeast Baltimore, highlighting a rising nationwide subject of mail theft and prompting requires federal intervention.WBAL-TV 11 News Investigates has discovered that somebody robbed the letter carrier on Walther Avenue at Fleetwood Avenue, and there was no police report.Tony Vaughn, president of the Baltimore chapter of the National Association of Letter Carriers, confirmed the theft to 11 News Investigates and stated it is one thing that is changing into all too acquainted.”(On) March 6, we had been knowledgeable one among our letter carriers, whereas delivering the mail, was robbed and assaulted,” Vaughn informed 11 News Investigates. “This is one thing that is been happening all through the nation and in Baltimore City.”In an announcement to 11 News Investigates, a consultant for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service confirmed the March 6 theft and stated it is providing a reward of as much as $150,000 for any info resulting in the arrest and conviction of the 2 suspects. Contact investigators and reference case No. 4265999-ROBB.| REPORT: Contact U.S. Postal Inspection Service about mail theft, or name 877-876-2455Vaughn, who represents virtually 3,000 U.S. Postal Service mail carriers within the Baltimore space, informed 11 News Investigates that mail carriers aren’t simply getting robbed within the metropolis.”(There had been) three in Catonsville, I’ve had … about three in Columbia, Maryland. I had a letter carrier robbed in Lutherville, a letter carrier robbed in Crofton,” Vaughn informed 11 News Investigates. “It’s an actual traumatic subject for letter carrier to undergo that.”11 NEWS INVESTIGATES: SPIKE IN MAIL THEFTSPART 1: While mail theft skyrocketed over the previous 5 years, the federal officers tasked with lowering these crimes had been sidelined. Baltimore is one among simply 20 cities throughout the nation that has a postal police power, however their duties have modified.PART 2: Thieves are additionally concentrating on the grasp keys that enable letter carriers to entry mailboxes, and a current USPS Inspector General report exhibits some Maryland submit places of work are leaving these keys unsecured.When requested whether or not this was an issue 5 years in the past, Vaughn informed 11 News Investigates: “Not like this.”Vaughn informed 11 News Investigates that 23 letter carriers have been robbed in Maryland because the begin of 2022. In February, 11 News Investigates revealed mail carriers are more and more being focused by criminals nationwide, many occasions for grasp keys that U.S. Postal Service workers use to entry the mail.USPS information exhibits 64 letter carriers had been robbed in 2019, and that quantity was on tempo to hit greater than 600 in 2023 — a rise of 850%.”Was it a stakeout? I simply cannot say as a result of it is occurring a lot,” Vaughn informed 11 News Investigates.Thieves are particularly concentrating on checks despatched within the mail. In 2019, there have been 286,000 reviews of mail examine thefts nationwide, surging to an estimated 742,000 in 2023.On Wednesday, U.S. Attorney for Maryland Erik Barron introduced a Maryland man pleaded responsible to stealing tons of of checks from the mail price greater than $250,000.Congress is seeking to do one thing to assist, because the Protect Our Letter Carriers Act of 2024 (Senate invoice | House invoice) launched final month within the House.Vaughn defined to 11 News Investigates a part of what the invoice would name for, saying: “Every workplace would have an assistant U.S. lawyer designated to investigating for the arrest and conviction of assaults on federal employees with letter carriers.”Vaughn stated the NALC is internet hosting an “Enough is Enough” rally from 5-7 p.m. on April 30 on the Baltimore City Post Office on Fayette Street.
A mail carrier was assaulted and robbed at gunpoint in northeast Baltimore, highlighting a rising nationwide subject of mail theft and prompting requires federal intervention.
WBAL-TV 11 News Investigates has discovered that somebody robbed the letter carrier on Walther Avenue at Fleetwood Avenue, and there was no police report.
Tony Vaughn, president of the Baltimore chapter of the National Association of Letter Carriers, confirmed the theft to 11 News Investigates and stated it is one thing that is changing into all too acquainted.
“(On) March 6, we had been knowledgeable one among our letter carriers, whereas delivering the mail, was robbed and assaulted,” Vaughn informed 11 News Investigates. “This is one thing that is been happening all through the nation and in Baltimore City.”
In an announcement to 11 News Investigates, a consultant for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service confirmed the March 6 theft and stated it is providing a reward of as much as $150,000 for any info resulting in the arrest and conviction of the 2 suspects. Contact investigators and reference case No. 4265999-ROBB.
| REPORT: Contact U.S. Postal Inspection Service about mail theft, or name 877-876-2455
Vaughn, who represents virtually 3,000 U.S. Postal Service mail carriers within the Baltimore space, informed 11 News Investigates that mail carriers aren’t simply getting robbed within the metropolis.
“(There had been) three in Catonsville, I’ve had … about three in Columbia, Maryland. I had a letter carrier robbed in Lutherville, a letter carrier robbed in Crofton,” Vaughn informed 11 News Investigates. “It’s an actual traumatic subject for letter carrier to undergo that.”
11 NEWS INVESTIGATES: SPIKE IN MAIL THEFTS
PART 1: While mail theft skyrocketed over the previous 5 years, the federal officers tasked with lowering these crimes had been sidelined. Baltimore is one among simply 20 cities throughout the nation that has a postal police power, however their duties have modified.
PART 2: Thieves are additionally concentrating on the grasp keys that enable letter carriers to entry mailboxes, and a current USPS Inspector General report exhibits some Maryland submit places of work are leaving these keys unsecured.
When requested whether or not this was an issue 5 years in the past, Vaughn informed 11 News Investigates: “Not like this.”
Vaughn informed 11 News Investigates that 23 letter carriers have been robbed in Maryland because the begin of 2022. In February, 11 News Investigates revealed mail carriers are more and more being focused by criminals nationwide, many occasions for grasp keys that U.S. Postal Service workers use to entry the mail.
USPS information exhibits 64 letter carriers had been robbed in 2019, and that quantity was on tempo to hit greater than 600 in 2023 — a rise of 850%.
“Was it a stakeout? I simply cannot say as a result of it is occurring a lot,” Vaughn informed 11 News Investigates.
Thieves are particularly concentrating on checks despatched within the mail. In 2019, there have been 286,000 reviews of mail examine thefts nationwide, surging to an estimated 742,000 in 2023.
On Wednesday, U.S. Attorney for Maryland Erik Barron introduced a Maryland man pleaded responsible to stealing tons of of checks from the mail price greater than $250,000.
Congress is seeking to do one thing to assist, because the Protect Our Letter Carriers Act of 2024 (Senate invoice | House invoice) launched final month within the House.
Vaughn defined to 11 News Investigates a part of what the invoice would name for, saying: “Every workplace would have an assistant U.S. lawyer designated to investigating for the arrest and conviction of assaults on federal employees with letter carriers.”
Vaughn stated the NALC is internet hosting an “Enough is Enough” rally from 5-7 p.m. on April 30 on the Baltimore City Post Office on Fayette Street.
