Local and federal authorities are investigating after an Akron postal worker was robbed at gunpoint on Monday afternoon by three men.
It happened in the 200 block of West Long Street around 2:38 p.m.
According to the Akron Police Department, three unknown men approached the postal worker, and one of them pulled out a gun and demanded the postal worker's belongings.
"They took my mailbag and all the mail I had in my hand," the postal worker described to dispatchers in a 911 call. "They pulled up in a car. So I was up a driveway with my back turned, and all of a sudden they were all behind me."
"It’s extremely disheartening to see something like this happen to our postal workers who are out there in the inclement weather trying to deliver our mail," Lt. Michael Murphy with Akron Police said. "This impacts a lot of people because anytime a postal worker has their bag stolen, as you can imagine, the number of residents who have pieces of mail and things they’re expecting to be delivered to them. Now, they’re without that, and we have to try to track that down."
After taking the postal worker's items, the men jumped in a gray SUV and drove off. Authorities later found the SUV abandoned along Soika Avenue in Cleveland.
A specific description of the three robbers wasn't provided.
This marks the third reported instance this year where a postal worker in Akron was threatened with a gun while on the job.
The Akron Police Department, the United States Postal Inspection Service and the FBI are investigating the case.
The USPS issued the following statement regarding robbery:
The US Postal Inspection Service is actively investigating the recent armed robbery of a USPS letter carrier that took place on Monday, December 29, 2025, in the 200-block neighborhood of W Long Street. Although we are extremely confident in the direction of our investigation, at this time, we cannot provide specifics regarding the incident, other than the carrier was unharmed.
The armed robbery of a postal employee is a violation of Title 18 US Code Section 2114 and is punishable by up to 25 years in prison. As part of our mission to protect our fellow employees, customers, and the Postal Service at large, the response and investigation into letter carrier robberies is a top priority for our agency.
Letter carriers are part of our communities, and everyone can play a part in helping the Postal Inspection Service keep them safe. If anyone observes a suspicious individual or vehicle following their letter carrier, or someone suspicious lurking around a blue USPS collection box, call 911 then the Postal Inspection Service at (877) 876-2455.
Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to contact the Akron Police Detective Bureau at 330-375-2490. You can also call CrimeStoppers at 330-434-COPS or text TIPSCO and a tip to 274637. Tips can also be submitted online by visiting www.AkronCops.org.
