ALBUQUERQUE, – A postal official says authorities in New Mexico are investigating a spate of unusual armed mail robberies in recent months in the Albuquerque and Santa Fe areas, an official said.

U.S. Postal Inspector Brook Robinson told KOB-TV in Albuquerque that officials usually investigate mail and parcel thefts during the holidays, and they aren’t seeing a similar trend in other places.

“This is specific to Albuquerque right now, this isn’t really a trend nationwide,” Robinson said. “This is very rare that a weapon will be used, and I think a lot of the reason we don’t see it as much is because it could get you 25 years in prison if you use a handgun in mail theft.”

Robinson said agents were investigating eight cases since mid-October, including one last week and three in November in northeast Albuquerque.

In Santa Fe, a letter carrier reported a robbery in late November.