Philadelphia post office robbed at gunpoint

Philly.com ^

[Red in Blue PA]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Police are seeking the man who robbed a post office in northeast Philadelphia at gunpoint.

The holdup happened Thursday afternoon at the post office on Castor Avenue.

[Red in Blue PA]

So signs apparently do not working in keeping criminals away.

Who knew?/ssssss

[CGASMIA68]

Police say the robbery happened at the US Post Office located on the 6300 block of Castor Avenue on Thursday around 4:20 p.m. According to police, an older black male(but we knew that) with a gray beard, around 45-50 years old, had a gun during the robbery. The male fled in an unknown direction with an unknown amount of cash and money orders.

[smartyaz]

Jeez, perhaps he couldn’t read. All Post Offices are “Gun Free” zones..

[ilovesarah2012]

I think money orders are pretty easy to trace. I do wonder how much cash he got. Probably better off stealing stamps considering the cost.

[Popman]

-——The suspect was wearing a bucket hat, plaid shirt and tan cargo shorts.-——

Guess I’m hopelessly ignorant of pop culture, but what’s a “bucket hat”

Certainly it’s not a bucket on your head...!

[ASA Vet]

Did the robber force the post office to put up it’s hands?

[CGASMIA68]

Guy probably wants to go to federal prison.....cause that was a real stupid move

[RightGeek]

Wkipedia: The modern bucket hat is derived from a tropical hat made from olive drab cotton that was issued to the US Army during the Vietnam War. These lightweight hats became popular among civilians for use in sports such as fishing, and as sun protection.

Not to mention as gay apparel!

[PubliusMM]

We called ‘em booney hats...

[Popman]

Thanks....I was about to get my Home Depot bucket out of the garage so I can start looking cool !!!

[PubliusMM]

But, from that pic, should be looney hats...

[fella]

In my youth Post Offices carried lots of cash and stamps were used as money. Now days a crook would be lucky to get a roll of stamps to mail the bills with.

[Marcella]

The robbery didn’t happen - no one can have a gun in a post office. s/s/s

I don’t go in any store if they don’t allow concealed carry in their store. I won’t be a target in a store that doesn’t allow good people carrying.

The most recent store added to my list is CVS. Stopped going there months ago.

My Catholic church has a great father/pastor - he was a sniper in the army. He has put new signs on the church doors. “No open carry allowed”. Texas goes to open carry come January 1 next year. The church allows concealed carry as it always has but I guess the pastor felt open carry might frighten some of the church members. Or, maybe he thinks if members open carry, they will be discussing their guns among themselves during his homily/sermon. :o)

I would bet the pastor has a gun under his vestment robe - being a former sniper he would want to be ready to protect church members. When hunting season opens, he’s the first one out in the woods hunting. I think if you have sniper training and mentality, you never lose it.

Does your church pastor carry concealed? Was your pastor a sniper in the military? Was he in the military at all? Do you know if you can conceal carry in your church? Does your church have a sign preventing concealed carry? If so, how do you feel being a target in your church?

[Trailerpark Badass]

Shouldn’t print the signs in cursive.

[DUMBGRUNT]

During the 1920s, two of our Presidents ordered the Marine Corps to help guard the U.S. Mail. -

...Within a few days, 2,200 Marines and 53 officers, taken mainly from the expeditionary forces kept alert at Quantico, Virginia, and San Diego, California, were spread throughout the country guarding the mail. They usually worked in small detachments of two or three Marines.
And they meant business. Navy Secretary Denby, a former Marine, sent a message to the Corps, which reads in part:
You must, when on guard duty, keep your weapons in hand and, if attacked, shoot and shoot to kill. There is no compromise in this battle with bandits. If two Marines guarding a mail car, for example, are suddenly covered by a robber, neither must hold up his hands, but both must begin shooting at once. One may be killed, but the other will get the robbers and save the mail. When our Marine Corps men go as guards over the mail, that mail must be delivered or there must be a dead Marine at the post of duty...

In addition to the special orders, the Marines were provided a training manual in question-and-answer format. The 105 questions and answers were designed to provide most of the information the Marines needed to fulfill their mission. Here’s a sample:
Q. Suppose he [the robber] is using a gun or making threats with a gun in trying to escape?
A. Shoot him.
Q. Suppose the thief was apparently unarmed but was running away?
A. Call halt twice at the top of your voice, and if he does not halt, fire one warning shot; and if he does not obey this, shoot to hit him...

From the day the Marines assumed guard duty until March 15, 1922, when they were withdrawn, not a single attempted mail robbery took place.

MORE at link:

https://www.mca-marines.org/gazette/crime-and-postal-history-bring-marines#sthash.XPTcqF2I.dpuf

[bgill]

I had to do a search for bucket hat.

[Rockpile]

The Post Office Department used to require airline pilots who were carrying high value cargo to be armed.

I think during the anti-gun hysteria in the late 60s and about the time hijackings got going that Trickey Dick’s admin put a stop to armed pilots.

Up to the late 50s the PO used to issue 45 ACP revolvers to specific express clerks and register clerks. Then went to 38s. I know the last clerk (retired) in my area who had a PO gun license.

[ViLaLuz]

Bucket hat - also called a boonie.

[Lurker]

Thanks. I served in the Corps and had no idea of that

L

[nonsporting]

Didn't he read the sign?