Authorities in the greater Boston area announced Wednesday that two teenagers were arrested for the armed robbery of a United States Postal Service worker earlier this month.
The Melrose Police Department said two 16-year-old boys from the Somerville area were arraigned in juvenile court for their alleged involvement in the masked armed robbery of a mail carrier around 3 p.m. Saturday, December 10.
Police said prompting revealed that the two boys were sitting on the steps of a home on Orchard Lane in Melrose when the USPS worker stopped to deliver mail to a house down the street. As he approached the driver’s side door of her truck, the couple allegedly approached her with a BB gun and a knife demanding “postal property.”
The woman reportedly complied with their demands before fleeing the scene.
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Two people dressed in dark clothing are captured walking down Orchard Lane in Melrose, Massachusetts, before robbing a USPS worker.
(US Postal Inspection Service)
After reviewing video of the incident, interviewing witnesses and looking at other evidence, Melrose police said they were able to identify the suspects.
On December 18, police saw a suspicious vehicle near a USPS drop box in Melrose. When officers approached the vehicle, the two children were inside allegedly in possession of mail and postal property. Melrose police said Somerville police assisted with the arrests of the children.
Investigators said they later learned that the two boys decided to steal the mail containing checks after hearing that they could earn money that way through trends on TikTok and elsewhere.
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A Google Earth image looks down the side of Orchard Lane in Melrose, Massachusetts.
(Google Earth)
According to Boston 25 News, neighbors said the mailman had plans to retire two weeks after the incident.
The United States Postal Inspection Service was offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
Multiple agencies were involved in the investigation, including the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, USPIS, the Massachusetts State Police assigned to USPIS, and the Melrose Police and Massachusetts State Police assigned to the District Attorney’s Office.
FILE – Five USPS mailboxes outside a post office.
(iStock)
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Police said the investigation is still active.
USPIS announced that additional information can be reported to 1-877-876-2455, then “law enforcement.” All advice is confidential.
