READER REPORT: Westwood Village Post Office’s outdoor mailbox damaged too

| Crime | West Seattle news | Westwood

One day after we reported that the West Seattle Junction Post Office‘s outdoor mailbox is out of commission again, looks like the one at the Westwood Village Post Office is too. So reports Cindi, who sent the photos a short time ago and explains:

Just as I drove up they were in the middle of taping up the box at Westwood; somebody vandalized it and they have just discovered it.

The lock picture is where they started to try and pry off the drop chute.

While Cindi was there, workers were emptying mail out of the damaged box. We already had an inquiry out to USPS about the Junction box; we’ve added an inquiry about this too. It also was recently returned – in November – after 2 1/2 months away because of a break-in.

BullS January 2, 2026 (2:46 pm)

Camera please 🙏 🥺

Junction January 2, 2026 (4:05 pm)

At least as of 3:30 this afternoon when there, the Junction mailbox has been completely removed now. Since its installation I have wondered why it wasn’t replaced with one of the larger boxes pictured above like Westwood’s, (complete with bollards). Apparently it wouldn’t matter with our unending supply of vandals/miscreants intent on destroying everything.It’s either problems of incompetence and bureaucracy with leadership at the top, or the trash heap of society at the bottom.

Jeff January 2, 2026 (4:48 pm)

They might consider putting them through the exterior wall, much more difficult to damage.

Alki resident January 2, 2026 (5:17 pm)

I’m done using West Seattle stations. Zero competence to keep these boxes in working order. So many people over the years have suggested cameras and bollards and fencing to no avail. It was completely predictable that this would happen again sooner than later.

Anne January 2, 2026 (9:06 pm)

Which is why I never use them-especially when mailing anything other than a plain card or letter. No gift cards no checks nothing with account numbers or personal info- they aren’t safe.i wish the Junction location especially had more parking for those with mobility issues.
- Westseattlemailman January 3, 2026 (12:12 am)
  
  I’m a mailman here in Best Seattle. Have you seen our parking lot? There is no room. We fill it with our vehicles each night. It’s the most crowded block in our neighborhood. Perhaps the solution would be to walk over to the station, not drive your car and add to the congestion. Seattleites all need to use their cars less and I encourage you to bus over or walk. And don’t forget we will pick up your mail from your home 6 days a week.
  - Lola January 3, 2026 (3:55 pm)
    
    WestSeattleMailman,I have left mis-directed mail sticking out of my mail-box & they leave it. I have had to chase the mail person down just to take it to the correct person. As stated in the above post they said it would be nice for the people who have mobility issues to be able to use some of the spots.
  - East Coast Cynic January 3, 2026 (7:39 pm)
    
    I very much appreciate the job our mailmen do in West Seattle. However, I’ve left mail by my mailbox to be picked up, and it wasn’t. We have plenty of people w/o mobility issues, but are too lazy to walk to the post office when they live close by. By the way, I always drop my mail inside the post office. I’ve known of past occurrences of outdoor mailboxes being tampered with, not only in West Seattle, but in another neighborhood I use to live in.
- IDC9 January 3, 2026 (6:27 am)
  
  You are very wise not to use the outdoor mailboxes for important mail. While its not foolproof (post office burglaries are sadly not unheard of), it is usually less risky to use the mail slots inside the post office. Even better? Hand your mail directly to one of the post office clerks and request it be postmarked right then and there. This goes double with the new USPS rule coming into effect this year that most mail is only going to be postmarked when it reaches large sorting center and not when it is first recieved by the post office.

Rhonda January 2, 2026 (9:58 pm)

A private mailbox service like Mailboxes Etc or the UPS Store would have that fixed in a matter of hours.

Localmailman January 3, 2026 (12:13 am)

Gotta disagree. Red tape exists everywhere. The ups store near Safeway on 42nd closed btw and has been rebranded. We work hard 6 days a week in all weather to serve you :)
Derp January 3, 2026 (9:19 am)

This is the federal govt, Dejoy, and Trump, wrecking havoc

Rob January 3, 2026 (8:44 am)

Was there any mail stolen?

ArborRes January 3, 2026 (5:20 pm)

Just want to say thank you to the US Postal Service. I appreciate that you provide reliable home delivery and the West Seattle delivery person I see is particularly kind. The private mailbox services are pricey, at least $200/year, last time I checked. I don’t use the outside delivery boxes, which is too bad, but it’s not hard to find parking in the vast parking areas at Westwood Village and drop off mail inside. No need to wait in line if you don’t want to, just drop it in the slot. And, unless there is a mobility or health issue, we could all benefit from a few extra steps.

Averagemail January 8, 2026 (6:12 pm)

Is there any update about this mailbox damage? Has it been repaired?

WSB January 9, 2026 (10:59 am)

I noted in another story that it was no longer taped up nor marked with a sign. I checked that again while out yesterday and whether it’s the same mailbox or replacement, it appears to be in service – TR

Sorry, comment time is over.