COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — The FBI charged a Westerville man Thursday with stealing a mail key and taking other people’s mail.
Charging documents say the United States Postal Inspection Service and the FBI have been investigating a series of violent, armed robberies where USPS employees are held at gunpoint for their arrow keys which allow access to secured mailboxes.
There have been at least 25 robberies fitting that description between January 5, 2022, and May 11, 2023, investigators said.
Court documents said the key was reported stolen on May 11 after the armed robbery of a USPS employee outside the post office at 2873 West Broad Street.
The employee was pistol-whipped with a handgun. Columbus police told WSYX last week that a person was injured but treated at the scene.