PARIS, Maine — A string of U.S. Postal Service robberies and burglaries in several Maine towns this past month are being investigated.
On Jan. 14, Paris police received a report about a break-in at the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) post office in Paris, located on Tremont Street, the Paris Police Department said Tuesday in a news release.
After an initial investigation into the incident, the case was passed to inspectors with the USPS. Inspectors then responded and helped local police, according to the release.
"Two days later, another report indicated that the North Monmouth post office had also been burglarized, with postal assets and mail being taken from both locations," the release stated.
Paris and Monmouth police partnered with postal inspectors in actively investigating both incidents.
Then, on Saturday, two USPS letter carriers in Lewiston were robbed. They were both physically unharmed in the incidents, police said.
"The suspect, armed with a knife, seized postal property during these incidents," the release said.
Since Saturday's incidents, Lewiston police and postal inspectors have been actively involved in the investigation, the release stated Tuesday.
Alerts were sent out to law enforcement agencies across the state, providing details of the two burglaries and two robberies.
"Approximately three hours after the last armed robbery in Lewiston, two suspects linked to both burglaries and the two robberies were identified and apprehended with the support of the Rumford Police Department," the release said. "These individuals were subsequently placed in federal custody."
"The jurisdiction of this incident has now shifted to federal authorities, and no further information is currently being disclosed due to the complexity and ongoing nature of the investigation," the release added.
Inquiries from the public about the incidents can be directed to the U.S. Postal Inspector Service at ISMediainquiries@uspis.gov.