Man charged with robbing letter carrier at gunpoint for his mailbox key

A Worcester man faces federal charges for allegedly robbing a letter carrier at gunpoint in January - not for his money, but for the key that can open postal boxes on his route, according to the US Attorney's office in Boston.

According to the US Attorney's office, the Jan. 4 robbery in Peabody was the latest in a string of ten attacks in the Boston area by thieves looking for the "arrow keys" letter carriers use to open street-side boxes containing mail - and potentially envelopes with cash or checks that can be modified for larger amounts and to different payees. In six of the cases, the robbers were armed with a gun, knife or both, the feds say.

Anthony Diaz, 20, was charged with forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, and interfering with a United States Postal Employee, while they were engaged in the performance of their official duties, by use of a deadly weapon, a firearm, the US Attorney's office reports. He was also charged with assaulting a person with oversight of US mail.

The US Attorney's office adds:

Diaz approached a USPS letter carrier and stated, "Give me the keys," while pointing a semi-automatic pistol at the victim. After the victim handed Diaz the USPS vehicle key, Diaz allegedly responded, "Give me the rest of the key," and "Hurry up or I’ll shoot you." The victim removed his keychain, which was attached to his belt, containing his USPS Arrow Key and asked if he could have his vehicle key back. Allegedly, Diaz did not respond, as he turned, placing the firearm in his right jacket pocket, and walked directly to the dark grey sedan parked in the area of 3A Veterans Memorial Drive. It is further alleged that Diaz stopped at the rear of the vehicle with the trunk open, before getting into the driver’s seat and departing.