Seattle's crime rate has forced USPS to pause deliveries in zip code

Posted 17 days ago

From WWW.DAILYMAIL.CO.UK

Out-of-control crime in the Democrat-run city of Seattle forced the United States Postal Service (USPS) to pause deliveries to an entire zip code for a week.

Around 900 residents in the 98118 zip code did not receive their mail as delivery services were halted due to mail theft and 'equipment security concerns'.

They were told to pick up their mail from the local post office and stood in long queues of up to an hour while delivery services were paused for a week before UPS lifted the ban on Tuesday.

Thieves had stolen a master key which is used by the USPS to open collection boxes, cluster box units and outdoor parcel lockers.

It comes as Seattle continues to experience rampant crime, drug issues and battles huge rates of homelessness.

Residents who lived in the 98118 zip code claimed they were not told their deliveries were paused and instead found out through neighbors or on Facebook.

'Mail delivery to less than 900 residents in parts of south Seattle was affected last week because of equipment security concerns. Improvements to the affected equipment were made, and all mail was delivered to the impacted residents,' a USPS spokesman said.

'We appreciate the patience and understanding of the community as we work to preserve the safety and sanctity of the mail.'

A sign was posted on a mail container the neighborhood of Columbia which read: 'Due to the rise in mail theft and vandalism we will be holding all mail for your address. We do not have an exact date of when all master locks will be replaced.'

While delivery services were paused, residents were forced to wait in queues of up to an hour at their local postal annex.

But any mail which was not collected during the week services were paused will be delivered as normal.

Seattle's violent crime rate is at a 15-year high, based on its annual crime statistics from 2022, with 5,642 cases reported- including 52 murders, 321 rapes, 1,759 robberies and 3,510 aggravated assaults.

And property crime is the highest it has been since 2008 with 44,408 crimes recorded including 8,678 for burglary and 28,627 for larceny-theft.

This year, there have been 16 murders, 103 rape offences, 429 robberies and 925 aggravated assaults.

While 2,564 cases of burglary and 7,110 larceny-theft cases have been recorded so far in 2023.

Seattle, governed by Democrat Mayor Bruce Harrell who was sworn in January 2022, is also battling a drug problem and homeless crisis with a growing number of homeless encampments.

Harrell's made it a point to address the burgeoning amount of camps sprouting up across the city, after inheriting the crisis.

Seattle dedicated $173 million towards its homeless crisis in 2022. That is a 125 percent increase from 2018 when $77 million was budgeted towards the issue, according to city data.... (Read more)












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