09/01/08 - Locking Mailboxes

MAIL & IDENTITY THEFT - Mail and identity theft is a frequent item in the news these days. Some Crystal Ridge residents have been victimized. Mail left in unsecured mail boxes potentially allows thieves to steal your credit cards, pin numbers, ID cards, checks, and cash. It is a crime, intrusive on your personal lives, and can be a major headache to clear up. There are some steps you can do to help protect yourself:

·         Install locking mailboxes (procedures below)

·         Never leave mail in your mailbox overnight

·         Remove mail as soon as it is delivered

·         Drop outgoing mail off at the post office

·         Notify the post office to hold your mail when absent

·         Stay alert

·         Report suspicious activity to the police

If you and your neighbors decide to convert to secure mailboxes, as others have done already, the procedures for approval are shown below.  If you have any questions, send us an email or write us a letter

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Secure Mailboxes - Special Update

Review of Procedures

The Board is prepared to act quickly to review requests per the following steps if they are identical to this first setup. If you propose to do something different, then the Board will have to review the proposal accordingly. Detailed steps are include in the website and were updated in August 2008.

Postal Service

1. To convert, there must be 100% participation by each homeowner (not rental tenant) at that particular mailbox standard. Contact the tenants or the Board for the address of the absentee homeowner. You must have approval from the post office before you convert.

Crystal Ridge HOA procedures for installing secure mailboxes

1. If you have 100% participation, contact the post office to obtain a package of information on the procedures to follow for the conversion. In the package, you will need to read and complete the petition and forms enclosed in the package.

2. Before you commit to an installation or expend any funds, check with the Post Office for approved models.  Be sure the model is approved by the Puyallup Post Office for installation in our neighborhood and that the residents involved can cover the cost of the new models.  

After you have approval from the Post Office, then submit an application form or letter to the Board requesting the conversion and provide all information available such as 100% agreement, location, style of boxes, quantity, necessary modifications to a standard, etc.  Please include model numbers, color, size, and a picture of the new boxes.

You can obtain a modification application online, modification application form.  Each application should designate a person(s) who will be the coordinator for each mailbox standard. Please include the name, address, and phone number of the designated person(s). The Board would like to use the existing standards as much as possible and would like to avoid secure mailboxes on pedestals.

3. The Board will review each application to ensure that the covenants are being followed, that unauthorized modifications to the mailbox standards will not occur, and to maintain the decorum of the neighborhood.

4. If the Board approves your application, then the designated person(s) can follow through to set up the installation with the post office and the installer.

5. The designated person(s) for each standard will be responsible to ensure that the conversion is accomplished per approved plans and to coordinate with the post office and the installer.

6. The post office and the installer will probably require all payments up front before the secure mailboxes are installed.

7. Each homeowner is responsible for their own expenses for the installation. The Crystal Ridge HOA will not pay for any installations. The designated person(s) in charge at each standard is responsible for collecting funds and making applicable payments to the installer and/or post office, as necessary.

8. Each homeowner must accept the disruption in service, if any, and alternate mail deliveries, if any, as negotiated with the post office and the installer.

Final Comments

1. These secure mailboxes will help deter mail theft but are not an absolute guarantee against any mail theft. They act as a deterrent only by making it "harder" for thieves to access your mailbox. All residents converting to secure mailboxes should remember this and continue to use prudent measures to help avoid theft of your personal and business mail.

2. Good luck! If you have any questions, please contact the Board.

Thank you,

Board of Directors

4/13/01 - 

Special Update - The previous model of secure mailboxes mentioned below for 12/06/99 are no longer approved by the Post Office.  The changes in the procedures for this special update are  marked in white below.   You can order secure mailboxes from American Postal Manufacturing Co (Order toll free 1-800-229-4500) or any other approved manufacturer and / or distributor of secure mailboxes so long as they are approved by the Puyallup Post Office and by the Crystal Ridge Homeowners' Association Board of Directors.

If you have any other questions, please send an email to the Board or write us a letter.

12/06/99 -  

The three new locking mailboxes were installed on Crystal Ridge drive on October 30th.  We ordered 8 unit boxes but they sent us 12 unit boxes.  They look good and are in use now.  If you have some sticking problems with the locks (i.e. the lock is stiff and won't move easily), spray some WD-40 into the lock and on the key and then work the key in the lock for a little bit.  It should make the locking mechanism operate smoothly.

   If you want to order secure boxes for your mailbox standard in Crystal Ridge, please review and follow the procedures below.

      The boxes (Model #N1004627) are being ordered from American Postal Manufacturing Co (Order toll free 1-800-229-4500).  The boxes are rear load NDCU's and will be installed on the existing mail standards.  They are standard 8 units per cluster with 7 incoming units and 1 outgoing mail drop unit. 

Secure Mailboxes - Special Update

1. To convert, there must be 100% participation by each homeowner (not rental tenant) at that particular mailbox standard. Contact the tenants or the Board for the address of the absentee homeowner. You must have approval from the post office before you convert.

1. If you have 100% participation, contact the post office to obtain a package of information on the procedures to follow for the conversion. In the package, you will need to read and complete the petition and forms enclosed in the package.

2. Before you commit to an installation or expend any funds, check with the Post Office for approved models.  Be sure the model is approved by the Puyallup Post Office for installation in our neighborhood and that the residents involved can cover the cost of the new models.  

After you have approval from the Post Office, then submit an application form or letter to the Board requesting the conversion and provide all information available such as 100% agreement, location, style of boxes, quantity, necessary modifications to a standard, etc.  Please include model numbers, color, size, and a picture of the new boxes.

Modification application forms were distributed to all homeowners in a special mailing this year dated May 14, 1999.  You can obtain a from online, modification application form, or contact Mark Noll at 770-4871 or send a letter to the Board  with the pertinent information. Each application should designate a person(s) who will be the coordinator for each mailbox standard. Please include the name, address, and phone number of the designated person(s). The Board would like to use the existing standards as much as possible and would like to avoid secure mailboxes on pedestals.

3. The Board will review each application to ensure that the covenants are being followed, that unauthorized modifications to the mailbox standards will not occur, and to maintain the decorum of the neighborhood.

4. If the Board approves your application, then the designated person(s) can follow through to set up the installation with the post office and the installer.

5. The designated person(s) for each standard will be responsible to ensure that the conversion is accomplished per approved plans and to coordinate with the post office and the installer.

6. The post office and the installer will probably require all payments up front before the secure mailboxes are installed.

7. Each homeowner is responsible for their own expenses for the installation. The Crystal Ridge HOA will not pay for any installations. The designated person(s) in charge at each standard is responsible for collecting funds and making applicable payments to the installer and/or post office, as necessary.

8. Each homeowner must accept the disruption in service, if any, and alternate mail deliveries, if any, as negotiated with the post office and the installer.

Final Comments

1. These secure mailboxes will help deter mail theft but are not an absolute guarantee against any mail theft. They act as a deterrent only by making it "harder" for thieves to access your mailbox. All residents converting to secure mailboxes should remember this and continue to use prudent measures to help avoid theft of your personal and business mail.

2. Good luck! If you have any questions, please contact the Board.

Thank you,

Board of Directors