WOODLAND – A mail delivery contractor with the US Postal Service was uninjured here Monday evening during an armed robbery.

Woodland Police Chief Don Ryan reported that Eric Cotton, 40, of Rocky Mount had backed his delivery truck into the loading dock area of the Woodland Post Office when the robbery took place.

&uot;Mr. Cotton was in the process of entering the rear door of the post office when he was approached by two black males and ordered to lay face down and not look up,&uot; said Chief Ryan.

Later, Cotton gave Ryan a description of the suspects – one 5′-7&uot;, 190 pounds wearing a black ski mask, heavy black jacket, gloves and carrying what appeared to be a .22 caliber handgun; the other was said to be 5′-8&uot;, 210 pounds wearing a military type pile cap and gloves.

After robbing Cotton of his wallet as well as taking his keys and three mailbags from the back of the truck, the victim reported seeing the two men fleeing on foot behind the post office.

&uot;We called for a tracking dog and he twice followed a trail from the post office to the rear parking lot of Woodland Baptist Church,&uot; stated Ryan. &uot;It is there where I believe the getaway vehicle was parked.&uot;

Ryan said that the stolen keys fit a number of post offices in Cotton’s service area.

&uot;Those post offices were contacted and advised to change their locks,&uot; noted Ryan.

The three stolen mailbags were picked-up from the post offices in Severn, Pendleton and Murfreesboro. Cotton was en route to the district post office in Rocky Mount.