Logan Square, Chicago robbery: Video shows 1 of 2 brazen armed robberies of USPS mail carriers in Logan Square, Kilbourn Park

CHICAGO (WLS) — New surveillance video shows one of two brazen armed robberies of Chicago mail carriers that happened within minutes of each other Tuesday.

The video shows a letter carrier walking around the 1800 block of North Sawyer Avenue in Logan Square on Tuesday, before the U.S. Postal Inspection Service said the worker was robbed at gunpoint around 10 p.m. 15.45.

ABC7 Chicago obscured the postal worker’s face to protect his or her identity.

“You just have to be aware of your surroundings at all times. You just never know,” said Logan Square resident Carolyn Mitchell. “You just never know if it’s going to be you. If they’re attacking the mailmen, I’m walking down this street, someone might attack me.”

Minutes before the attack, police said another postal worker was robbed and shot in the leg in the 3200 block of North Kildare Avenue in the Kilbourn Park neighborhood.

“He was like speeding through the alley and the second time he came around was when he shot the guy and then all our neighbors started running,” said Ali Sanchez, who lives steps away from where the shooting happened. She said she saw someone in a white Kia circling the block just before she heard a gunshot.

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Police say the 52-year-old man was taken to a hospital in serious to critical condition.

The National Association of Letter Carriers – Department 11 reacts to the attacks.

“I represent over 5,000 letter carriers, about 3,800 active, who are out there on the street every day to deliver the mail, and they want to know that they are protected and they need to be protected,” says Elise Foster of the National Association of Letter Carriers – Ward 11 ,

Police said the suspects are male and were seen driving a white Kia at both scenes.

The Kia in question was recovered by law enforcement, USPIS said Wednesday afternoon. It is being analyzed for evidence.

“Ultimately, somebody knows something and we’re going to get to the bottom of it one way or another,” said US Postal Inspector Spencer Block.

The president of the Letter Carriers of Chicago had been in contact with the injured carrier.

“He’s in good spirits; he’s optimistic. He’s doing well and recovering,” Foster said.

No one was in custody Wednesday.

There is a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

US Postal Inspectors are investigating another armed robbery of a mail carrier that occurred Wednesday at 11 in Berwyn. It happened along Home Avenue near 15th Street.

They spoke to residents in the area and asked for a video of the incident.

Police said two men in a silver Toyota Highlander pulled up near the postman.

A man got out and put a gun to the postal worker’s head.

He then grabbed the mail bag and got back into the SUV and the two suspects drove away.

Foster said all of these incidents affect members who are federal employees across the Chicago area.

“Attack on one is an attack on all and it really is. We don’t know the next person who might be assaulted; so you mess with one, you mess with all of us,” she said.

Ward 11 reports that nearly 90 letter carriers have been assaulted and robbed in the past 12 months.

Foster said members are scared and if a carrier feels threatened or notices someone suspicious, it could affect the delivery of mail.

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