In many cases, the thieves are robbing letter carriers for arrow keys, which are keys that ... Jim Hordeski lives on the block where a mailman was held up with a gun. He said he is friends with ...

Often these mail carriers are attacked for their universal keys - also called arrow keys - that open cluster mailboxes often found at apartment buildings, industrial complexes and HOAs.

The criminals are stealing what's called an arrow key. They're master keys that can be used to open any mailbox in a given zip code. "It's like having a key to the city," said Albergo.

Experts say thieves have been targeting mail carriers to get an arrow key, which allows carriers to open any mailbox in a given zip code.

DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT WHICH IS REALLY SAD. THE MASKED ROBBERS STOLE THE MAIL MAN’S ARROW KEY. THE ARROW KEY BASICALLY OPENS ALL MAIL RECEPTACLES. SO YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT BLUE COLLECTION ...

Watch related coverage: Man allegedly threatened mailman in Virginia Beach with gun to steal USPS arrow key Man allegedly threatened mailman in Virginia Beach with gun to steal USPS arrow key This ...

CHARGED WITH THE ARMED ROBBERIES OF LETTER CARRIERS INVOLVING ROBBING MAILMAN AT GUNPOINT AND STEALING THEIR ARROW KEYS, STEALING MAIL AND THEN CROSSING CHECKS. THREE OF THE EIGHT SUSPECTS ARE ...

The group acquired "arrow keys" from the postal service and then made new, counterfeit keys, according to the indictment. They then used the keys to open mail boxes and looked for checks ...

Herman said more charges are expected by the Federal U.S. Postal Inspection Services. Stolen arrow keys are one reason mail theft has soared in recent years. There were fewer than 60,000 ...