Arrest Made in LA Postal Carrier Robberies
Federal authorities have arrested a suspect in connection with a series of armed robberies targeting USPS mail carriers across Los Angeles. The individual faces federal charges, though specific details about the number of incidents and locations have not yet been released.
The suspect has been identified as 28-year-old Andranik Naghdalyan. He has been charged with five counts of second-degree robbery by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. Detectives are concerned there may be additional, unreported victims and have released Naghdalyan's photograph to the public. The series of armed robberies occurred between December 3, 2025, and February 22, 2026, targeting postal carriers in the San Fernando Valley communities of Studio City, Valley Village, and Sherman Oaks. In each case, the assailant, armed with a firearm, demanded the carrier's "arrow" key and electronic scanner. The arrest was made just 30 minutes after the final robbery on February 22, when LAPD officers stopped a white Lexus sedan identified as the vehicle used in the crimes. These "arrow keys" are universal master keys that open USPS collection boxes, apartment panels, and cluster mailboxes, making them a high-value target for criminals. Stolen keys are often sold on the dark web for thousands of dollars and used to commit widespread mail theft, which can lead to check fraud and identity theft. The increase in these violent robberies is a national trend, with attacks on mail carriers rising sharply in recent years. This spike prompted the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to launch "Project Safe Delivery" in May 2023, a national initiative to combat postal crimes and enhance employee safety. As part of Project Safe Delivery, the USPS is deploying 12,000 high-security collection boxes and replacing 49,000 traditional arrow locks with electronic versions that require two-factor authentication to reduce the value of a stolen key. Since the project's inception, there have been over 2,400 arrests nationwide related to mail theft and carrier robberies. Robbing a mail carrier is a federal crime that carries severe penalties. Conviction for theft of a postal key can result in a maximum of 10 years in prison, while the charge of mail theft itself carries a potential five-year sentence.
