Several Burke Mountain residents are questioning the security of their mail delivery after discovering a wide-open community mailbox last week on Dayton Street.
Burke resident Tina Wilson, along with many others, has been the victim of mail theft and misdirected mail, and says she's frustrated at the lack of security with the older community mailboxes. She also disapproves of Canada Post's practise of contracting out mail delivery on Burke Mountain and what she says is a poor response to complaints and concerns.
"We definitely considered it a downgrade moving here," she said of the community mailbox service, noting the problems started in the past year when she began receiving mail for the same house number but for a street one block down from them.
The mail included several Revenue Canada items, credit cards and, in one particularly disturbing incident, a neighbour's cancer test results.
Wilson, who works from home, said several clients have had properly addressed cheques returned to them with a "Not at this address" message scrawled on the envelope because they've been delivered to the wrong box.
Other residents report receiving their neighbours' mail on a weekly basis, including one who received someone else's will probate letters, and packages that weren't delivered despite somebody being at home all day.
Wilson's biggest concern, however, is that mail delivery on Burke Mountain is considered "rural" and contracted out.
"One thing that was rather shocking is that person covers their own away time, so when they're on vacation or they're sick, they can hire the kid next door for $10.25 an hour," Wilson said. "There's no control whatsoever on who delivers on their behalf."
Anick Losier, spokesperson for Canada Post, confirmed Burke Mountain is indeed considered rural and mail in the area is delivered by Canada Post employees who use their own vehicles. She noted they belong to a different union than other carriers but they go through similar security screening.
Anyone filling in for those carriers are known as temporary relief rural mail carriers and have also been screened, she said.
"Security of the mail is our number one priority," Losier said, emphasizing that anyone with complaints or concerns needs to contact Canada Post. Once that happens, a ticket is created, then forwarded to the local supervisor, who is responsible for investigating the incident. The ticket can't be closed until the supervisor has resolved the matter and reported back to the customer service department.
Canada Post is also monitoring the security of community mailboxes, Losier said, and working closely with police to catch mail theft suspects, but such criminals are "determined, regardless of the target, to get into it, whether it's a community mailbox, a house or a car," Losier said. "It takes an equal level of determination to stop those intent on committing property crimes."
She could not provide details on when the mailboxes on Burke Mountain might be replaced with the newer, more theft-resistant models.
To lodge a complaint about mail theft or other such incidents, contact Canada Post at 1-866-607-6301 or www.canadapost.ca under the "Support" tab.
@spayneTC
