Postal carrier robbed of his clothes in bizarre attack

(3/20/06 - KTRK/HOUSTON) (KTRK) -- A postal carrier was the victim of a bizarre robbery in southeast Houston. The man was robbed Monday afternoon and his clothes were stolen, but the mail was left alone.

The suspects didn't steal any mail and didn't take the mailman's postal identification, but they did take his uniform, leaving him nearly naked in the middle of the street. It happened in broad daylight along Park near S. Wayside in southeast Houston.

Police and postal inspectors say the mail carrier had just exited his van to begin delivering mail when two suspects approached him with guns drawn, forcing him back into the van.

Eyewitness Reni Millar recalled, "I actually saw that he was in trouble and headed out to try to help."

Millar immediately knew her mailman was in trouble. She called 911.

"I'm being called his hero," she said.

Authorities say the mail carrier feared for his life and did what the suspects wanted. He stripped off his uniform. That and his cell phone are apparently all they took.

HPD Officer Billy Stevens said, "No wallet, no money, no nothing -- just his uniform."

Detectives say the suspects then fled, leaving the mail carrier nearly naked in his vehicle. Later a kind neighbor gave the man a t-shirt and shorts.

Veteran officers who have worked thousands of cases say this one is something they've never seen before.

"I've heard of a lot of different robberies, but I've never heard of anybody being robbed of their clothes before," admitted Officer Stevens.

Police say the two suspects fled the scene in a yellow GMC truck, but that's about the only information they have to go on. Officials with the US Postal Service say anyone approached by an unfamiliar person who claims to be a postal worker should ask to see their ID.
(Copyright © 2006, KTRK-TV)

Get more News »

• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•