I’ve received a report of mail theft on the corner of NE 117th St. and 17th Ave. NE on Sunday. They were apparently caught in the act and the incident has already been reported to the police.
We’ve already had quite a bit written on this topic in the past including a lot of helpful info on locking mailboxes. But this is yet another good reminder of why they can be a very good idea.
http://www.pinehurstseattle.org/2008/12/11/protecting-your-mail/
11-6-10 aprox. 1:40 pm
There has been suspicious activity concerning mail theft on 117th Ave NE between NE 125th and Brockman NE, one street east and around the corner from the Brown Bear Car Wash on 15th and 125th. A female was seen peering into mailboxes. She was wearing a thigh length hot pink parka with hood pulled up, jeans and hiking boots. She is caucasian, brown hair,slender, 5’4″ and appears to be 18 to 24 years old.
I have seen her seen for the second or third time opening mailboxes, which she did today. She walked with a short stride and bent knees. Walking south, she opened a mailbox, which was empty, as the mailman had not yet come, then continued south at which time she spotted me watching her. I went in and watched from a darkened inside. A few dozen feet later, she reversed direction and walked briskly out of sight toward Brockman. In less than one minute, the mailman came from 125th delivering mail. It is my theory that she realized the mail carrier had not yet come, but saw him coming down the street, and this is why she turned around. She is not a known resident of the neighborhood. A short time later when it began to get dark, a gray midsize 90’s minivan with horizontal rectangular taillights was seen slowing beside each set of mailboxes, then turning around down the street and coming back. This same van has been seen doing the same thing on other occasions, weeks apart. If they were looking for an address, you’d think they would have found it the other times.