Mail theft is rampant, and the City of SeaTac has had its fair share.
“We would hear about people having their mail stolen at least once or twice a week, if not more,” said Councilmember Peter Kwon.
Kwon says he’s dealt first-hand with mail theft.
“Not all locking mailboxes are created equal. The one I initially got for myself was broken into the very same week I installed it, so I realized, ok, we’ve got to find a better one,” said Kwon.
The city launched a program for residents, offering a strong, secure mailbox – made locally – at a discounted price, about $120.
Courtney Merino says she wanted one because of mail thieves hitting her street.
“Learned a lot more about the different kind of mailboxes and how easy mail theft is, so this seemed like a great way to go,” said Merino.
Kwon says for those who use the program – the city will even install the box for free.
“We actually had a dramatic reduction of mail theft, in fact, in homes where these mailboxes were installed, nobody has ever had mail stolen,” said Kwon.
Kwon says lower-income residents can get the boxes at a deeper discount – and they have a lifetime warranty.
The City of Tukwila has a similar program, and other cities are considering the same.
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