QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11) -- Police are on the hunt for a man who allegedly robbed a United States Postal Service mail carrier at gunpoint in Queens on Monday.
The robbery was caught on camera. Surveillance video showed a man walk past the mail carrier at the corner of 55th Avenue and 63rd Place around 12:30 p.m. He then turned around and approached her.
"He pulled out the gun in his hand and pointed it at my stomach area and he said 'I'm going to get your key and don’t do anything,'" said the mail carrier, who wished to remain anonymous.
She said she put up her hands as the man stole her mailbox key from her belt before taking off. The longtime mail carrier is still trying to process what happened.
“My chest hurts so bad. I'm very confused about everything. I think I'm in shock," the mail carrier said.
After the incident, she called 911.
Neighbors said that while they haven’t heard of anyone being held at gunpoint in the area, they are no strangers to mail theft.
In fact, a recent report found that mail theft is rampant in Queens and claimed the USPS is mishandling the problem.
As a result of the report, the inspector general issued several recommendations for the USPS.
New York City Council member Robert Holden said something needs to change now. He wants to see stiffer penalties and more enforcement.
"The fact that they are using guns is alarming. On a federal level we need Congress to step in," Holden said. “When you can’t feel comfortable mailing something in the United States, that’s when we have a problem."
The mail carrier agrees.
“I’ve been in Maspeth area a long time. It used to be safe. The park was safe. Now nobody wants to go there because crime happens," she said.
The United States Postal Inspection Service released a statement, which read in part:
"USPIS takes matters involving the safety and well-being of postal service employees as a top priority. We are working diligently with our local law enforcement partners on this investigation. To protect the integrity of the investigation, we cannot provide further details at this time."
United States Postal Inspection Service
When asked about concerns about mail theft and the safety of USPS employees, USPS referred PIX11 News to Project Safe Delivery, its nationwide campaign to combat postal crime and protect postal employees.
U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, who represents New York's 6th Congressional District, is currently co-sponsoring legislation to increase prosecutions and penalties for crimes against mail carriers.
Meng released the following statement.
"This robbery is unconscionable and unacceptable. I hope police find the perpetrator and I renew my call to keep our postal workers safe. In Congress, the House recently approved my measure that pushes the Postal Service to better protect its employees from robberies and assaults, and I’m cosponsoring legislation to increase prosecutions and penalties for these crimes. The bill also authorizes money for the Postal Service to install high security collection boxes and replace older versions of universal mailbox keys with electronic versions, greatly reducing the risks of letter carriers being targeted by criminals. This issue was also addressed in the investigation I convinced the Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General to conduct that found major mismanagement in how the Postal Service is addressing these types of problems in Queens. These despicable criminal acts cannot be tolerated, and we must continue to push the Postal Service and Congress to do more."
U.S. Rep. Grace Meng
