One of our Pinehurst neighbors on 24th Ave NE near NE 110th St just reported that this morning he had mail stolen from his mailbox, mail he’d put out for the mail carrier to take. One was an invoice with a credit card number on it.
This is a good opportunity to think about getting locking mail boxes. Some streets have them. They aren’t attractive, but they do the trick. You can get your own, or you can go in with neighbors to get a multiple-slot box.
Taking outgoing mail to a blue U.S. Mail box isn’t as convenient as putting out in your box, but it’s safer. And bringing in the mail soon after it’s delivered is also safer. Leaving mail out overnight is the very worst. We’ve heard numerous accounts of people trolling down streets in the dark looking in every mail box. There was a post on Maple Leaf Life about a nighttime incident just this week.
Have happy and safe holidays.
Info. on obtaining the lock boxes would be appreciated
If you are interested in a locking mail box, contact the post office. It has a rule book about locking boxes and a list of approved manufacturers. If you google ‘seattle locking mailbox’ lots of links will come up such as the (admittedly old) http://www.komonews.com/news/archive/4019136.html
Our blog has also had a few posts with helpful info and comments. Though it’s rather old as well so I’m not sure if everything is still relevant. But it’s a good place to start.
http://www.pinehurstseattle.org/2008/12/11/protecting-your-mail/
The best thing to do is get valuable stuff out of the mail – stop mailing checks – use online bill pay. If you don’t have a locking mailbox (cheap and easy from MapleLeaf Ace Hardware), make sure all mail that comes to you is free of checks and credit card info – sign up for e-billing with your credit card. Ask anyone sending you payment to pay through online bill pay or even better POPMoney (available from BECU)- those online bill pay checks are very hard to use if stolen and POPMoney just deposits the funds in your account. Mail theives are looking for checks, cash, credit card info, and packages containing things they can resell. And remind your congress person and senators that we have a meth problem because we don’t adequately regulate the base ingredient – cold medications.