Photo: GETTY IMAGES
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — State prosecutors say there has been a rash of assaults against postal workers in the Boston area.
And now, the U.S. Postal Service says it's taking action after this increase in attacks locally and across the country.
According to crime statistics, last year alone about 500 postal workers were attacked in the U.S.
Criminals are for the most part trying to get their hands on the universal mail keys postal workers carry to open blue drop boxes.
Law enforcement officials say the big attraction for criminals is to steal checks out of the boxes, alter them to any amount they want, then ultimately try and cash.
Stealing U.S. mail is a federal crime that carries up to 10 years in prison.
Recently, a man from Dorchester and a woman from Stoughton were arrested on suspicion of robbing a postal worker last year.
One of the steps the U.S. Postal Service is taking is to replace the current mailboxes in high-risk areas with more secure boxes.
The U.S. postal service says 12,000 boxes across the country will be replaced in the near future.
WBZ's Jim MacKay (@ JimMackayOnAir) reports.
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App