Vandals strike post office again
Starting Feb. 28, lobby will be locked on weekends
Staff writer
Hillsboro Post Office customers received a letter on Feb. 12 from Postmaster Norman C. Bouwie II announcing the closing of the post office lobby during the weekend beginning Feb. 28.
According to post office officials, someone vandalized the parcel locker keys in the lobby again, sometime between Feb. 7-8. Three of the locker keys were broken off and thrown in the trash can.
"I was looking for the public to help in finding the person(s) responsible for the vandalism," Bouwie said during a telephone conversation.
Bouwie was referring to the first acts of vandalism at the post office during the Thanksgiving holiday and on Dec. 11. As they warned they would, the local post office, along with the manager of the post office operations of Wichita, made the decision to lock the lobby on the weekends.
In the letter, Bouwie said, "As Postmaster, it is my responsibility to protect postal property and provide security for customers' mail. Since I cannot identify the person or persons responsible, I find it necessary to lock the lobby."
The lobby will be locked on Fridays at 5:15 p.m. to Saturdays at 6:30 a.m. and on Saturdays at 4 p.m. until Monday at 6:30 a.m.
If a holiday falls during the week, the lobby will open at 6:30 a.m. the day after the holiday.
"If vandalism occurs during the weekdays, instead of just the weekends, we will be forced to close the lobby at 5:15 p.m. and reopen at 6:30 a.m. each day," Bouwie said.
Bouwie also said that a report was made to the police and that a fingerprint check will be done on the keys.
At press time no results of the fingerprint check had been reported.
In the letter, Bouwie apologized to the postal customers for the inconvenience and asked patrons to call (620) 947-3631 if they have questions or concerns.
