Attention Walden Lake residents: If you had a piece of mail mysteriously not make it to its recipient in the last few weeks, this may be why.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is investigating two incidences of fires at the mailbox at the entrance to Walden Lake. The latest occurred sometime between 6:40 and 8 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 9. That means any mail that was placed inside the box by residents before the last pick up at around noon Saturday, Feb. 8, was destroyed.
“I have residents that put all their bills in there, even association dues,” Bette Guarino, of Walden Lake Community Association, said. “Everyone thought it would be safer to put their mail in there than their own mailbox.”
Walden Lake was informed by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service about the mailbox after the second time it was set on fire. Guarino said a postal inspector told her the first incident occurred about a month before the Feb. 9 fire.
“Any mail in there would be ashes,” Guarino said.
Walden Lake’s security camera, which is mounted at the gate, did not pick up any of the vandalism, because it is directed downward to photograph incoming vehicle license plates.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is anyone with information to step forward.
Typically, the post office won’t replace the mailbox after incidences like the one at Walden Lake. The decision to replace the box is made internally.
Walden Lake residents have fought to keep the mailbox at the front of the neighborhood for years. In 2005, they led a campaign after the post office decided to reduce mailboxes to reduce pick-ups. In 2010, the post office wanted to remove it again, because it wasn’t being used to its full potential. But, residents began using it more to save it.
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
Mailboxes are considered federal property, and federal law, Title 18, United States Code, Section 1705, makes it a crime to vandalize them or to injure, deface or destroy any mail deposited in them. Violators can be fined up to $250,000, or imprisoned for up to three years, for each act of vandalism.
Source: U.S. Postal Inspection Service
INFORMATION
If you have any information regarding the vandalism to the box in front of Walden Lake, call the post office at (813) 719-6733.