Surrey RCMP says a postal worker was approached by a man wielding a machete while he was walking his route on 123rd Street.
After making demands for the mail, the postal worker tossed his mail box keys and once the suspect grabbed them, he fled the area.
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Mounties say the suspect is described as a Caucasian male, 5’11 tall with a slim build.
Witnesses say they saw the suspect arrive in a vehicle, which was later detained and the suspected driver was taken in for questioning, but has since been released.
A spokesperson for the Canadian Union of Postal Workers says this is the third incident.
Previous incidents involved a carrier being pepper sprayed.