mailboxes being vandalized

[char]

well here it is... oct. 2 and already our mailbox has been trashed... mail all over the road... happened sat. nite between 8pm and 10pm on valley view drive....I guess there is no end to it....and nothing we can do.....it just burns me up... thank you for letting me vent...

[susie]

Hi Char,  How are things going?  Actually, I almost hit your mailbox Frday morning.         I was on my way to work and the mist kept building up on my windsheild and the inside was a lttile hazy also and just as I got to your driveway the sun was directly in front of me and I couldn't see a darn thing.  I came to a complete stop and then tried driving very slowly.  I was probably about a half a foot from your mailbox.  My window defroster started to really kick in and I was able to see a little better and was able to slowly contionue on my way.  You know our box has never been vandalized, but I never put mail in it the night before for the P.O. to take.  I always wait until the morning.  That's all I need is someone trashing bill payments.

[JoeP]

Seems the majority of mail box bashings occur on Valley View and Forest Acres Drive.  We have had a few here too on Beaver Pond but not of recent.

All you can do is report it to the police and the postal authorities.  I understand it is a Federal rap for vandalizing a mailbox.  

I suspect it is young people who get some entertainment out of this activity.  Perhaps a letter to the local high schools asking them to remind their students that the penalties can be severe, in addition it is not a nice thing to do.

Of course you could set up a sound activated video camera and hopefully capture the event and perpetrators for the authorities.  Barring that, I have seen supposedly bash proof mail boxes in Lowes.  I have also observed some folks surrounding their mail box, in kind of a decorative setting, with brick.  The last option has the additional benefit of preventing its premature demise from the Township's snowplow.

Joe

[char]

thank you jo all very good suggestions.... i would love for someone to get caught in the act and be made an example of....

[char]

well here it is a week later... and our mailbox trashed again..... this time they ripped the post right out... its one of those plastic ones... so they got their kicks ripping out the post and tearing off the doors....i made a report... boy i sure hope these idiots get caught... seems to be happening between 8 and 10 on saturday nites....i hope they have the nerve to do it again... this time we will be waiting.... what a boring life for them if this is their form of entertainment