UPDATE May 19

On or about May 17, the Post Office started holding ALL mail to Bridlewood without notification. We don’t know why!

If your mailbox faces the street, all of your mail should be delivered Saturday, May 20. It will continue to be delivered until the new box replacement beginning Wednesday, June 7.

If your mail box is on the back side where the locks are broken, you mail will continue to be held until the new box replacement in June.

UPDATE May 13

The new, more secure mailboxes to serve all Bridlewood residents are scheduled for install on June 7 and 8, 2023. The prior dates suggested were based on the ship and arrival timeline. June is the actual installation date as coordinated between the mailbox company and the US Post Office required oversight.

Watch for additional updates for exact date and process for new key distribution. In the meantime, re-read the information below about the mail hold and new keys.

And don’t forget! If you get mail delivery at the mailbox station still, please check your box nightly to minimize any potential loss in case we are hit again.

Mail Hold for Breached Boxes

With the third break-in and theft of mail in two months on May 4, the Post Office will hold the residents mail along the back of our cluster boxes until installation of our new secure boxes. This affects mail delivery to:

• 8030-8120 Kenton
• Derby
• Bedford
• Cottondale
• 8007-8035 Andover

If you have immediate needs mail or concern about items expected to have been delivered during the May 4-6 time period please contact the sender for your options.

Beginning Monday, May 8 residents can pick up their mail on hold at 900 Jefferson St, Olympia Post office until installation of our new secure boxes.

• You pick up mail at the regular service desk area.
• You will be required to show ID to pick up your mail.

These boxes will not be repaired and left open to be obvious as nothing to steal.

Mail Delivery for Usable Boxes

Mail will still be delivered to boxes that have not been broken into and lockable. The postal service fraud department has strongly recommended holding delivery as the best course of action. Residents with Belmonte facing boxes can request a personal hold through a request at the Post office or hold-mail online. Another course of action is to use informed delivery.

Do clear out all your box mail ASAP if your box has not been breached, boxes facing Belmonte, every night. We are still at risk for another incident.

Also, check your mail nightly to minimize possible theft overnight. This includes weekends when packages are delivered.

New Boxes on the Way

The new boxes are now in shipment. The installation is expected the week of May 15 or May 22.* June 7 and 8. As soon as they are installed, the HOA will begin new key distribution the next day. This process for receiving your keys is a requirement of the US Postal Service. Please do not ask for exceptions. Not following the process may result in a delay of access to your mail.

On the day of key distribution (TBA)

• Tables will be set up for you to sign for and receive your keys.
• All recipients will need to physically sign for their keys.
• Homeowners and Renters will need picture ID to receive their keys.
• Renters will need a Key Authorization signed by the property management company or homeowner. Renters will also need to bring a lease agreement (just the front page with your name, not financial details) as proof of lease status. If you do not have a lease contract (such as family member use of home) then the homeowner can include a note of usage along with the form or come pick up the key for you. The renter’s application is coming to you door-to-door to help make sure you have time to get the form signed prior to installation of mailboxes. You can download the authorization form here and also find the form at the Bulletin Board.

We hate that this has happened to our neighborhood. It is a crime related as easy pickings. These mailboxes are known as a quick break-in. We have requested extra police patrol to come through Bridlewood. We fully expect this to be resolved as soon as the new secures boxes are installed, as is the experience of other neighborhoods.