Arrest Made in LA Postal Carrier Robberies
A man has been arrested and is facing a federal charge in connection with a string of armed robberies that targeted United States Postal Service carriers in the Los Angeles area. The arrest follows an increase in on-duty assaults against postal workers.
Andranik Naghdalyan, 28, was arrested in connection with a series of five armed robberies of postal carriers that occurred between December 2025 and February 2026 across the San Fernando Valley. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office has charged him with five counts of second-degree robbery. The robberies targeted USPS employees in Studio City, Valley Village, and Sherman Oaks. In each incident, the suspect, allegedly Naghdalyan, approached the carriers with a firearm and demanded their specialized "arrow" keys, which open mailboxes, and their electronic scanners. A white Lexus sedan was reportedly used in the commission of the crimes. This string of robberies reflects a nationwide surge in attacks on postal workers. Criminals specifically target the "arrow" keys to gain access to mailboxes and steal checks and other sensitive information, which can then be used in fraud schemes. Robberies of postal carriers increased sixfold over the last decade. In response to the escalating crimes, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service launched "Project Safe Delivery" in May 2023. The initiative focuses on protecting postal employees, preventing mail theft, and prosecuting perpetrators. As part of the project, the USPS is deploying 49,000 electronic locks and 12,000 high-security collection boxes to make the universal keys less valuable to criminals. Law enforcement officials have released Naghdalyan's photo because they believe there may be additional, unreported victims. The investigation was a coordinated effort between the Los Angeles Police Department and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The federal government has been cracking down on these offenses. Since the launch of Project Safe Delivery, there have been over 1,200 arrests for mail theft and letter carrier robberies. Robbery of a mail carrier carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years, while mail theft is punishable by up to five years.
