On Sunday, Dec. 7 we walked the kilometre to our communal mailbox on the corner of Naramata and Sutherland road in Penticton to pick up Friday’s mail. We had not gone sooner as the steep lane to our home was icy. We found the whole front of the box was open. Our compartment was empty as were most. It did not appear that the box was vandalized, rather that it was left unlocked. We may never know if mail was lost or stolen.
As this has happened on at least three other occasions in recent years, one time I found a whole ring of Canada Post keys sticking out of the master lock and had to lock the box myself and put the keys into the mail slot, we wanted to report this latest incident but who do you call on Sunday? Emergency contact information should be posted on each box.
We try to pick up mail promptly and always post vital mail at a postal outlet in the city. Whether due to vandalism or incompetence, communal mailboxes are not secure.
Anne Ginns
Naramata