Postal workers hold rally after string of North Texas robberies targeting mail carriers
Several North Texas mail carriers held a rally in Dallas demanding tougher punishments for criminals who target them.
The National Association of Letter Carriers, a union that represents U.S. postal workers, hosted the "Protect Our Letter Carriers Rally" Thursday outside of the main post office off of I-30 in West Dallas.
The group says in the past two months there’s been an increase in violent robberies targeting letter carriers in Dallas, with more in Fort Worth and other North Texas cities.
Ahmaud Fleming has been a USPS letter carrier for the past decade. Last July, while working his usual route in Dallas, he says he was robbed at gunpoint by a masked man.
"I immediately put my hands up. He demanded the arrow key," he said.
The arrow key is a universal key used to open up clusters of mailboxes at apartment complexes.
Brian Renfroe is the president of the National Association of Letter Carriers.
"Access to mail is their primary target. Sometimes that's stealing the mail directly," he said.
Renfroe says since 2020, there have been some 2,000 attacks on letter carriers nationwide. The majority are victims of robbery or attempted robbery.
Kim Lewis is the president of Lonestar Branch 132, which represents some 2,900 letter carriers across North Texas.
"It has been very discouraging," he said. "I've had several letter carriers that have been involved in these attacks that have not returned to work."
Lewis says since November, more than a half dozen postal workers have been targeted.
That’s why the letter carriers are bringing attention to the problem with a rally. They're hoping for better protections for workers, including provisions to strengthen sentences for criminals who get prosecuted.
Ahmaud said he took three months off and had to get counseling in order to process the trauma.
The NALC is working on bipartisan legislation that would designate a prosecutor in all 93 U.S. attorney's offices to prosecute these crimes while strengthening the federal sentencing guidelines.
Recent Robberies of Letter Carriers in North Texas
The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) has posted several wanted posters for suspects involved in the robberies of mail carriers, which is a federal crime.
Jan. 29, 2024 - Dallas
(Source: U.S. Postal Inspection Service)
One robbery happened at an apartment complex in Far North Dallas.
USPIS say a suspect in his early 20s wearing a black hoodie and red shorts robbed a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier on Haverwood Lane
A $150,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the suspect's arrest and conviction.
Jan 18, 2024 - Fort Worth
(Source: U.S. Postal Inspection Service)
Another letter carrier robbery happened on Jan. 18 on Cliffridge Lane in Fort Worth.
The USPIS shared a photo of the suspect they say is responsible.
They say the suspect is likely in their late teens, 5'2" to 5'3" tall, with short curly hair.
A reward of up to $150,000 is being offered for information leading to the suspect's arrest and conviction.
Jan. 17, 2024 - Fort Worth
(Source: U.S. Postal Inspection Service)
Another incident happened on Sydney Street in Fort Worth.
The USPIS shared a photo of a man in an orange mask that they believe robbed a letter carrier on Jan. 17.
A reward of up to $150,000 is being offered for information leading to the suspect's arrest and conviction.
Jan. 12, 2024 - Dallas
The USPIS is also searching for a suspect who robbed a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier at The Sophia Apartments on Hudnall Street in Dallas.
Investigators say the suspect was wearing a full facemask and Letterman jacket with white sleeves and navy blue lettering.
A reward of up to $150,000 is being offered for information leading to the suspect's arrest and conviction.
Dec. 28, 2023 - Dallas
(Source: U.S. Postal Inspection Service)
Investigators are also investigating an incident on Dec. 28, 2023 on Colonial Avenue in Dallas.
The USPIS says the suspects are two males who were wearing masks and wearing dark-colored clothing at the time of the robbery.
A reward of up to $150,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects.