By MOHAMED FARGHALY | mfarghaly@queensledger.com
A recent gunpoint robbery of a USPS mail carrier in Maspeth has heightened demands for federal action to address escalating mail theft and improve postal security in Queens.
A gunpoint robbery of a United States Postal Service (USPS) mail carrier in Maspeth last week has intensified calls for federal action against rampant mail theft in Queens.
Police say an unidentified suspect approached the 48-year-old mail carrier on Monday, July 29, at the corner of 55th Avenue and 63rd Place, shortly after noon.
The bandit displayed a gun and robbed the mail carrier of her mail key before fleeing the scene. Officers from the 104th Precinct responded shortly after the incident. No injuries were reported.
Council Member Robert Holden, representing Maspeth as part of New York City Council District 30, condemned the USPS following the brazen robbery.
“The USPS is on the brink of collapse, and we’re beyond the mayday call,” Holden said. “We need the federal government to step up, protect our mail carriers, and invest in fixing the infrastructure and securing our mailboxes and relay boxes instead of relying on outdated methods like the arrow key. Our Postal Inspectors and Police need to be bolstered, more need to be hired, and the judges need to throw the book at those who break federal laws, assault our mail carriers, and steal our mail.”
Last year, Holden worked with the USPS, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the 104th Precinct, and local residents to successfully catch a mail theft ring in another area of Maspeth. Despite this success, mail-related crimes remain a significant issue.
Holden emphasizes the need for immediate federal intervention to address these escalating threats. He calls for increased funding to enhance the security of mailboxes and relay boxes and to support hiring additional Postal Inspectors and police officers. Furthermore, Holden urges stricter penalties for those who commit crimes against mail carriers and tamper with the mail.
“With the USPS teetering on the brink of collapse, it’s a damn shame to see dedicated workers like our local mail carrier endure such a horrific crime for doing their jobs,” Holden said. “My office is in close contact with her, the union, and all stakeholders to ensure she receives the support she needs, and we will not rest until this criminal is caught and put behind bars for a long time.”
Postal insiders reveal that the universal mail key, or arrow key, can open cluster mailboxes, apartment mailbox panels, green USPS relay boxes, and some apartment building doors, making it a prime target for thieves. A recent federal audit found major mismanagement of security in the Postal Service’s response to the spike in Queens.
The National Association of Letter Carriers is pushing for new legislation. The Protect Our Letter Carriers Act, introduced in Congress in May, would devote $7 billion to enhanced postal security.
