Postal Service offers $50,000 reward for tips connected to robbery of Sacramento-area mail carrier
The Investigative arm of the U.S. Postal Service is offering a $50,000 reward for help that would lead to the arrest of a robbery suspect in North Highlands.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service said a man robbed a mail carrier of his keys and cellphone around 1:10 p.m. March 27 on Oberon Avenue in North Highlands.
Matt Norfleet, a spokesperson for the postal inspectors, said that the keys belonged to the U.S. Postal Service and were stolen for no other reason than for the suspect to return with the intent to steal people’s mail.
He said the suspect brandished a gun to coerce the carrier to hand over the belongings.
“It is outrageous and unacceptable,” he said. “A mail carrier’s job is hard enough as it is.”
The suspect fled east on foot, according to Sacramento Valley CrimeStoppers. A CrimeStoppers post said witnesses saw the suspect enter the passenger side of a white, four-door Toyota Corolla to escape.
CrimeStoppers said the carrier described the suspect as a 5-foot-6 male adult wearing a black hoodie, black pants and black-and-white Air Jordan shoes and noticed them roughly 15 to 30 minutes prior to the robbery walking on nearby Harrison Street.
A witness said the car was seen in the area prior to the robbery, according to CrimeStoppers.
Norfleet said similar crimes have occurred where the suspects follow carriers prior to robbing them. Often, the crimes will have two suspects involved.
Anyone with information is asked to contact postal inspectors at uspis.gov/report or 877-876-2455 using the case No. 4003172.
This story was originally published April 11, 2023 at 5:25 PM.