The frustration is real for a Knoxville woman who says she can’t open her mailbox with the key. The mail is delivered to cluster boxes at her apartment complex and it seems no one can help.

She’s lived on Columbia Street for about two years now, and is still trying to get a mailbox key. Cunningham said the previous resident in her place took the mail key with them.

Experts say thieves have been targeting mail carriers to get an arrow key, which allows carriers to open any mailbox in a given zip code.

Criminals are stealing postal keys to unlock your mailbox and steal your identity. They're getting the keys by robbing letter carriers or buying them on the dark web. 7 On Your Side Investigates ...

Imagine not having access to your mailbox for weeks, without end in sight. It happened to a Taylorsville woman.

Police say mail was stolen from a box on Hamilton and Kinney avenues. They say whoever stole the mail likely used a key to open the mailbox.

A USPS mail carrier in Burbank was robbed of a universal mailbox key after a man posing as a FedEx worker approached her and removed the key from lock, before fleeing in a nearby vehicle.

An employee with the United State Postal Service admitted Thursday to stealing checks from the mail and selling the key to co-conspirators to steal mail.

7 On Your Side Investigates uncovered an increase in criminals stealing postal keys to unlock your mailbox and steal your identity.