We read the recent Times Free Press article headlined “Hamilton County residents asked to help fight mail theft” with great interest — and from a victim’s perspective.
We belong to a group of Ooltewah residents who have fallen victim to mail thieves over the past several months. Our mail carrier persists in leaving packages crammed into mailboxes. Mail sticks out far enough to tempt passing vehicles to help themselves. Larger packages are delivered to the front of the garage and are easily scooped up by anyone driving up or run over unseen as we back out and are subjected to inclement weather.
We have expressed our concerns and provided pictures to courteous Ooltewah Post Office supervisors to no avail. All we ask is secure mail and package delivery: mail and small packages enclosed inside the mailbox and larger packages placed on the porch.
Mail theft reduction should begin with secure deliveries. We hope that as law enforcement works to solve the crimes, the post office will take its responsibility seriously to train carriers about their roles in theft prevention.
Don and Valerie Bowers
Ooltewah