The Alderwood Manor post office in Lynnwood is cutting back on hours because of theft, vandalism and break-ins.
A notice posted on the door explains there are now limited lobby hours for P.O. box customers and they are closed on the weekends.
“I would like to be able to do it any time of day, but I can understand. I mean, theft is a huge problem, so rather have my packages be safe,” said customer Lisa Durst.
“No, it sucks. If you’re a customer paying, then you should be able to access your mail box whenever,” added customer Amber Jenks.
Another customer at the Alderwood Manor location says there have been ongoing issues.
“There used to be an outdoor mailbox right there and it got broken into several times and they would tape it up and put a message on there. That was closed temporarily and then one day, it was just gone,” she said.
Theft from mailboxes is surging across the country – up 87% percent, according to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
“Mail theft’s always been kind of something we’ve dealt with on a regular basis here in the northwest and kind of on the west coast. Mail theft and package theft ends up being a little bit more of a thing around the holidays,” said U.S. Postal Inspector John Wiegand.