FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - Police are investigating after, officials said, two men robbed a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier at gunpoint, Friday afternoon.
7Skyforce HD hovered above the scene of the robbery, at 2210 N.W. 7th Court, in Fort Lauderdale, just after 4 p.m.
According to investigators, the subjects approached the victim while she was inside her mail truck and demanded her mail keys. “Two unknown males — she’s never seen these individuals before — young, in their 20s [approached the carrier],” said a U.S. Postal Inspection Service spokesperson. “Obviously, one of them was brandishing a weapon. That was enough for her to follow instructions, like we always tell our employees.”
Officials said the carrier tried to hand over her keys, but the robbers snatched them from her before she could give them. One of those keys would give the duo access to multiple mailboxes.
Friday afternoon, USPS Police officers went door to door to find out any information connected to the robbery.
Officials said the employee was not injured. The victim’s family identified her as 59-year-old Cynthia Everett, and they said she has been a USPS employee for nearly 30 years.
Relatives said Everett had been working the same Fort Lauderdale route for many years.
Carla, who lives along Everett’s route, said she tried to comfort the victim after she was robbed. “I just saw the mail lady putting her belt back on, and I saw papers all over the place,” she said. “I’m glad she didn’t get hurt. I would never want to see her get hurt. That would be a tragedy. No one should get hurt, especially trying to do their job.”
Investigators said the carrier’s key could potentially help the robbers commit identity theft. “They’ll go online. They’ll steal your information. They’ll apply for credit cards and benefits, and then have them delivered somewhere,” said the Inspection Service spokesperson. “That’s why this key is vital to them because now they have keys that would give them access to an apartment panel box, where they can actually send some things or have some things mailed.”
Postal Police is offering up to $25,000 for information leading to an arrest. If you have any information on this robbery, call the U.S. Postal Inspection Hotline at 1-877-876-2455.
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