The United States Postal Service plans to replace locks on cluster mailboxes throughout Bellingham and Sudden Valley, after a string of mail thefts from locking mail receptacles.
USPS Bellingham Manager Zoe Russom sent a letter to Sudden Valley residents on Dec. 28, informing them of an increase in mail theft in both Bellingham and Sudden Valley. Russom said USPS will begin by replacing locks in Sudden Valley.
USPS Strategic Communications Specialist Sherry Patterson said she expects the new locks to be installed within the next several weeks.
“Postal Service employees are instructed to report any signs of disrepair or tampering observed when delivering to collection boxes, apartment panels and neighborhood cluster boxes,” Patterson said of how USPS aims to prevent mail theft.
Russom advised residents to do the following to reduce the likelihood of mail theft:
- Pick up mail daily, before the sun sets if possible
- Consider dropping outgoing mail in blue collection boxes instead of in the mailboxes
- If placing outgoing mail in mailboxes, do so in the morning before the carrier has come by that day
- Sign up for Informed Delivery to receive info on mail and packages scheduled to arrive
- “Be vigilant,” and report suspicious activity to local police
- Place mail on hold at the USPS facility at 3150 Orleans St. in Bellingham until the locks on the mail receptacles are changed
Bellingham Police Department Lieutenant Claudia Murphy said the department received 10 reports of mail theft from a locked mailbox from July 1 to Dec. 31. Cascadia Daily News also requested data on mail theft in Bellingham and Sudden Valley from the United State Postal Inspection Service and Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office but did not receive information by publishing time.
The Postal Inspection Service launched Project Safe Delivery in 2023 to combat mail theft and violent crimes against postal service employees.
Postal Inspector Alexander Laumb said since then, the Postal Inspection Service has arrested more than 287 individuals for postal-related robberies, and made more than 1,400 arrests for mail theft, nationally.
He said USPS is also working to “harden” mail receptacles to prevent mail theft, which can lead to identity theft.
Laumb said people can report mail theft to the inspection service’s national hotline at 1-877-876-2455. He recommends that people also report mail theft to local law enforcement, as the Postal Inspection Service works closely with police to identify and apprehend people who steal mail.
The City of Bellingham will require landlords to install locking mailboxes for rental units starting Jan. 1. City staff say this effort should reduce the risk of mail theft and connected identity theft and help ensure “safe and secure housing for all residents,” according to a city report. Some case-by-case extensions to March 2025 will be approved in the event of unique hardships.
This article was updated at 12:35 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 2 to add comments from a USPS communications specialist.
Charlotte Alden is CDN’s general assignment/enterprise reporter; reach her at charlottealden@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 123.
