Holiday Season: Protecting Delivery Drivers from Carjackers and Robbers

Delivery drivers for companies like Amazon, FedEx, UPS, and the US Postal Service are facing an increase in robberies and carjackings during the holiday season. Postal workers have reported a 231% increase in assaults over the past three years, with armed robberies of letter carriers rising from 36 to 154 reported incidents. Thieves are targeting postal workers for their "arrow keys," which can open most postal boxes and provide access to valuable items like financial documents and prescriptions. The US Postal Inspection Service has implemented initiatives to enhance security, including installing additional security features on mail collection boxes and making arrests for robberies and mail theft. Recent incidents include an Amazon driver being held up by carjackers in Connecticut and a FedEx driver being shot by a carjacker in Colorado. In response to the rise in postal crime, Senators Dick Durbin and Susan Collins have introduced the Postal Police Reform Act to allow Postal Police Officers to operate offsite and carry out arrests.