Postal worker robberies saw a big increase in 2023 — but thanks to some new technology, the United States Postal Service is seeing those numbers begin to drop in 2024.
In 2023, postal robberies were up 30% to 643 incidents. However, local Postal Inspector Rick Johnsten told News 6 that robberies in 2024 are down 19%, and mail theft complaints are down 34%.
Johnsten said there are several reasons why robberies and mail theft numbers are down – including the replacement of arrow keys.
Arrow keys are a universal key that fits a variety of mailboxes. USPS is working on replacing those keys with a new digital key.
Johnsten said the new keys are making the biggest difference.
“If we make it to where, you know, the mail is safer, because if you get a key, it’s going to be useless,” Johnsten said.
Back in April, Winter Park Police confirmed to News 6 that they responded to the Minnesota Avenue area about a postal worker robbery. News 6 went to the area when it first happened, and witnesses said the mail carrier told them they were robbed at gunpoint for their arrow key.
Johnsten said he hopes the new keys will keep their employees out of harm’s way.
“Switching over to these electronic locks and keys, I think will help achieve that goal, making the traditional key useless,” Johnsten said. “So there really would be no reason to commit a robbery because you’re not going to get anything from it.”
In addition to postal robberies going down as well as mail theft complaints, Johnston said arrests for postal robberies are up 73%.
“We have installed quite new high-security blue boxes that have the electronic locking mechanisms inside,” Johnsten said. “Over 15,000 of them have been installed. Over 28,000 separate electronic locking mechanisms inside these boxes throughout all 50 states. So they’re rolling them out everywhere. And pretty soon, we’re hoping the original traditional arrow key will be useless.”
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