WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Mailbox prowler; stolen package, mail found

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two reader reports today:

MAILBOX PROWLER: Sent by Kevin:

This happened at 4:40 AM this morning, I live (in the 3800 block of) 34th Ave. SW. It looks like she sees the camera, and puts the hoodie over her head before she reaches in to see if there’s any mail. It also looks like she has other packages from pick-ups earlier. Looks like there’s someone in the background across the street, like a partner. I’m waiting on my Amazon order for my new locked mailbox.

DUMPED STOLEN PACKAGE, MAIL: Via text:

Stolen mail and package found in compost bin near Westwood, from 11th Ave. SW, initials of package are S.G.

If that might be you, let us know and we’ll connect you.

CarDriver September 24, 2023 (5:52 pm)

Another good reason to pick up your mail every day. And, if you’re going to be gone stop delivery and have it held at the post office until you return home.

34thNeighbor September 24, 2023 (6:20 pm)

Kevin – We live on your block, and I noticed our box was left open too.

Loxy September 24, 2023 (8:10 pm)

Notice it’s a Blink camera. I have my Blink outdoor cameras connected to my cell phone, and keep cell phone close by during the night in order to hear if there’s any alerts. I woulda woke with an alert and called the cops right after her butt. Hopefully mail theft is still considered a very serious crime with severe punishment.

Oh Seattle September 25, 2023 (1:35 pm)

Based on my experience with repeatedly having mail stolen in West Seattle, it’s not considered a crime worthy of follow up from the police, the postmaster or the Postal Inspection Service. Each time my mail was stolen, it was scanned in at the post office, but it didn’t get to my locked mailbox. I’d find out that I had stolen mail when my credit card company alerted me that the credit card that had been mailed was currently attempting to be used at a gas station or grocery store in West Seattle. I also had federal tax documents stolen. Mail without financial or identify info was delivered without issue.

The thefts stopped immediately when I posted a sign outside my townhouse’s locked mailboxes warning about the thefts and where in the delivery process they were occurring. I filed a police report each time, filed a complaint with the Postal Inspection Service and the 98116 postmaster, but the only follow up I got was when I went into the post office to follow up on my email and the postmaster assured me it couldn’t be a carrier problem because everyone liked the guy delivering my route.
- CarDriver September 25, 2023 (4:29 pm)
  
  Back in the mid ’90’s a coworker who lived in Federal Way had mail stolen and checks fraudulently cashed. Turns out it was the mailman and his girlfriend who worked at the bank were the perpetrators. It was a HUGE time-consuming effort to get it all straightened out and resolved.

James September 25, 2023 (4:06 pm)

I live on 33rd Ave SW and they stole my mail. I didn’t get a chance to take mine out that day and they took my coupon books and bank info etc, so lame. Same woman also checked the door on my SUV to see if it was unlocked

Kevin September 26, 2023 (9:06 am)

The occurrences seem to be increasing as this is the second time in 3 weeks I’ve caught a thief on camera. Hopefully our secure mail boxes will help.

Anders September 26, 2023 (9:53 am)

That’s a great story by Cardriver- but want to ensure we keep the real threat(s) in focus. The percentage of mail carriers who are convicted of mail theft is simply infinitesimal compared to the total number carriers who are both honest and dedicated. On the flip side, thousands of carriers have been, and are currently being, attacked and assaulted nationwide on their route. Rising significantly since 2020, spikes in this horrifying behavior have made national news several times just since May 2023. (Not to mention mail TRUCK thefts here in WS reported by WSB). As a counterpoint story, when our mail was stolen in 2004, it was the astute mail carrier who noticed someone following his truck at a distance and removing mail from street boxes. He called police and they were arrested. In addition, about a week later – imagine my shock when a uniformed SPD officer knocked on the door and personally handed over our stolen mail. Up until then, we didn’t even know it had been lifted. Boy, those were the days!