This original public notice relates to the U.S. Mail Truck robbery that occurred on August 14, 1962, near Plymouth, Massachusetts, one of the most significant mail thefts in American history. During the robbery, a mail truck transporting over $1.5 million in currency was hijacked, and postal employees were held captive while the vehicle was diverted to multiple locations.
The crime prompted a major federal investigation led by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in coordination with other law enforcement agencies. Despite nationwide attention and extensive investigative efforts, no individuals were ever convicted and much of the stolen money was never recovered. The case remains a notable example of mid-20th-century organized crime and federal law enforcement response.
Dated September 1962, this notice was intended for public display, as indicated by its format and posting hole. Such materials were distributed to encourage community awareness and cooperation during the investigation and were typically discarded after use, making surviving examples uncommon.
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR IN CHARGE BOSTON 7, MASSACHUSETTS U.S. MAIL TRUCK ROBBERY SEPTEMBER 5, 1962 ON THE NIGHT OF TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1962, AT ABOUT 8 O'CLOCK, A U.S. MAIL TRUCK WAS HI-JACKED IN THE NORTHBOUND LANES OF STATE ROUTE 3 NEAR PLYMOUTH, MASS. APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES SOUTH OF THE INTERSECTION WITH U.S. HIGHWAY 44. THE POSTAL DRIVER AND GUARD WERE HELD CAPTIVE UNTIL THE TRUCK WAS ABANDONED IN THE RANDOLPH AREA AT THE INTERSECTION OF STATE ROUTES 128 AND 28. DURING THE RIDE BETWEEN THE HOLDUP AND ABANDONMENT POINTS, A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 50 MILES, THE 16 POUCHES IN THE TRUCK CONTAINING A TOTAL OF $1,551,277 IN CURRENCY, WERE REMOVED FROM THE MAIL TRUCK. THE POSTMASTER GENERAL HAS OFFERED A REWARD OF $50,000 FOR INFORMATION RESULTING IN THE CONVICTION OF THE PERSONS INVOLVED IN THIS CRIME. IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION, NO MATTER HOW TRIVIAL IT MAY SEEM, CON- CERNING THE MOVEMENTS OF THE MAIL TRUCK ON THE NIGHT IN QUESTION, OR OF SUSPICIOUS PERSONS OR VEHICLES WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN USED BY THE ROBBERY GANG, PLEASE CONTACT THE UNDERSIGNED OR YOUR POSTMASTER OR MAIL CARRIER, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. ANY AND ALL UNUSUAL ACTIVITIES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SINCE THE HOLDUP MAY HELP US IN OUR INVESTIGATION. YOUR ASSISTANCE WILL BE KEPT IN STRICTEST CONFIDENCE. W. F. WHITE POSTAL INSPECTOR IN CHARGE BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS TELEPHONE: CA3-2223What to Know