Last week, two individuals were arrested related to the armed robbery of a United States Postal Service (USPS) worker in Harvey, a Chicago suburb. The arrests were reported by CBS News on October 30th, 2023. The mail carrier was reportedly held at gunpoint on October 23, which fueled national concerns over postal worker safety.
The robbery took place near the intersection of 148th and Loomis on October 23, according to the Harvey Police Department. The suspects, a man armed with a gun and a woman, driver of the involved vehicle, were arrested after investigators obtained video surveillance. The footage helped identify one of the vehicles by its license plate, eventually leading to their arrests as ABC 7 reports.
The apprehension of the suspects is attributed to, in part, the concerted efforts of the Harvey Police Department, U.S. Postal Inspectors, and technological tool, License Plate Reader System (Flock). The blend of advanced technology, and diligence of law enforcement operators resulted in justice being served, stated Harvey representative Glenn Harston, via CBS News.
Speaking on behalf of union workers, Elise Foster, president of Branch 11 of the National Association of Letter Carriers, urged swifter protective measures for workers. Foster suggested route amendments and strategies to avoid late-night deliveries, as stated in the CBS News report. She indicated the absence of safety measures for workers during their delivery rounds, citing ongoing crimes against them.
