Northlake post office
Clerks at the U.S. post office in Northlake Shopping Center are warning patrons not to leave mail in the blue mailboxes in the parking lot, but to instead walk envelopes inside and drop them in the slot. Thieves, they say, have been targeting that branch using ingenious techniques to steal the mail.
“They put that sticky stuff inside to keep the mail from dropping all the way in,” said a Northlake postal employee who preferred I not share her name, “then they can come back later and take the mail. The best thing to do is bring the mail inside the lobby. They don’t come inside, they just do it to the mailboxes in the parking lot.”
“People,” she exclaimed with frustration, shaking her head, “I tell you the truth.”
Last fall, thieves broke into parking lot mailboxes at the Vickery post office on Abrams near Skillman. Until the boxes could be repaired, yellow tape warned users not to drop envelopes inside.
Lake Highlands resident and owner of Elements Massage discovered the problem for himself last week when he deposited his mail and didn’t hear it drop. He got out of his car, reached inside and found his envelope hanging just out of sight.
“For those of you that use the post office at Northwest Highway and Ferndale,” he warned friends on Facebook, “thieves have put sticky material just inside the opening causing mail to stick and not drop down. When I went inside the post office, the mail clerk at the counter shook her head in disgust indicating this is a habitual problem.”
The Northlake lobby is open 24/7 to receive deposited mail. Counter service is available 8:30 a.m. to 5 Monday through Friday.
Vickery mailboxes still have residue from the fall, when they were broken into and taped up
