The mail carrier was leaving the Post Office located near the busy intersection of 14th and T Streets Northwest during rush hour. That's when a masked gunman approached him and demanded his cash, according to the U.S. Postal Police. The man then stuffed the money into a black backpack, locked the postal worker in the rear of the truck, and then took off.
The employee was able to call for help from his cell phone. Police arrived less than a half hour later and blocked off the street to investigate. Authorities also went to nearby businesses in search of witnesses.
The latest incident happened Thursday evening, when a postal worker was robbed of postal funds at about 6:30 p.m. at 14th and T streets Northwest at the T Street postal station.
"He was very brazen to walk up to our postal employee," U.S. Postal Inspector Lori McAllister said.
Police say that the postal worker was on his daily rounds, picking up packages, when an armed, masked man demanded cash, money orders and everything else the man had.
He then locked the worker inside the truck and got away. About 25 minutes later, after contacting authorities on his cell phone, the worker was freed.
Zach Callahan, a UPS driver who has been working in the area for more than a decade, called the incident scary.
A representative with the Washington Division of the US Postal Inspection Service says the postal worker was able to use his cell phone to call for help inside the truck. He was locked inside the truck approximately 30 minutes, but was unharmed.
The representative says the suspect grabbed bags which possibly contained postal funds, including cash, money orders, stamps, etc.
He also says there have been similar incidents in the DC area, including an August 2010 in Congress Heights. This case is still open.
If anyone has information about this incident or similar incidents please call 202-636-1479. You can remain anonymous.
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