Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Five separate robberies of letter carriers in Western New York in under a month is forcing the union representing ail workers to call for action.
The robberies, which occurred between November 10 and December 5, all appeared to target the carrier's arrow key that's used to open mailboxes and collection boxes. Some of the robberies happened at gunpoint, others involved physical violence.
"That arrow key gains you access to many, many things in that city or zip code," said David Grosskopf, President of the local chapter of the National Association of Letter Carriers. "From a blue collection box, to apartment buildings, to lockers that have multiple mailboxes in them, that key is very valuable."
Around holiday time is when thieves are most likely to find cash, checks, or gift cards in the mail. It's part of the reason Grosskopf believes this string of robberies is happening now.
He's also pleading to everyone to help keep letter carriers safe.
"The immediate thing I'm asking is for the community to pay attention," Grosskopf said. "When that carrier's in your neighborhood, watch them... If anything happens report that and dial 911 immediately."
Grosskopf is backing federal legislation that would fund security upgrades including the replacing of those arrow keys with electronic locks. A bill to do so is co-sponsored by area Congressmen Nick Langworthy and Tim Kennedy.