US Postal Worker Nearly Run Over by Car While Trying to Stop Mail Bin Theft

A United States Postal Service (USPS) mail delivery truck in Queens, New York on May 9, 2022. Andrew Kelly/Reuters

Thieves nearly ran over a postal worker while attempting to steal mail from a U.S. Post Office in Orange County on Jan. 23.

A cell phone footage captured three men snatching a bin full of mail and packages from the loading dock outside a U.S. post office in Fullerton, California, Tuesday.

In the video, which was posted on social media, a female postal worker is seen trying to stop the men from driving off by standing in front of their car.

The car continued to move forward, backing up the worker and eventually pushing her into the street, where she fell as they exited the parking lot and drove off.

Witnesses called 911, and responding officers soon spotted the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop, where they found the stolen mail bin and arrested the three men on suspicion of robbery, mail theft, and assault with a deadly weapon.

The postal worker suffered minor injuries, according to authorities.

Authorities said they’re working with investigators at the post office to determine if the suspects checked out the post office ahead of time to plan for the theft or if the incident was a crime of opportunity.

“We’re working with our partners at the postal service, their investigators there,” Fullerton Police Department Sgt. Ryan O’Neil told local news outlet KTLA. “We are working on the local charges, and they will be working on the possible federal charges.”

Mail theft is a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

“I’ve seen a lot of stuff in my career as far as stealing mail,” Mr. O’Neil said. “This is my first time seeing suspects steal a crate of mail from the post office.”