12/06/2024
Whether you read about it on the front page of the latest issue of the Ojai Valley News, or heard it from a friend or neighbor, or were an unfortunate victim yourself, by now you are probably aware of the string of mail thefts that have taken place across the Ojai Valley.
What began late last year with the brazen theft of an entire bin of mail from the back dock of the Ojai Post Office, has continued on a smaller, yet persistent scale with the repeated stealing of letters from personal mailboxes and the blue USPS mailboxes within the city.
According to the Ojai Valley News, thieves have even been so bold as to steal from “the mailbox inside the U.S. Post Office in Ojai.”
The problem has been raised at city council meetings, and the USPS is aware of the issue and is looking into it, but as one Ojai resident was quoted in the OVN, “You can’t stop the thieves from stealing. … Secure mailboxes are the only safe way, other than walking [the mail] in.”
It’s unfortunate, but they’re right. Even the US Postal Service’s own recommendations are to “Deposit outgoing mail … inside your local Post Office, or your place of business or by handing it to a letter carrier.”
That’s all well and fine, but the OVN quoted another resident saying, “the city ‘doesn’t have the infrastructure for people to drop all mail at the counter in the Post Office.’”
And again, they’re correct.
Good luck trying to find parking along Signal or Ojai Ave during your lunch break on a Friday afternoon. And, of course, you’re out of luck any time after 5 o’clock during the week, or 2:00 on Saturday.
So, what do you do?
You go to the place that has…
•Parking (provided some people don’t *ahem* IGNORE OUR SIGNS IN FRONT OF THE STORE AND USE OUR PARKING TO SHOP AT VONS)
•Surveillance cameras monitoring the facility
•Secure locking mailbox
•Mail pick up from a USPS letter carrier with direct transportation back to the Post Office.
•Longer hours
•A locked store at night
You come to Attitude Adjustment because we’re the only place that checks all of those boxes! ✅✅✅✅✅✅
(We even SELL boxes!)
Open Monday through Saturday from 8:00-7:00, Attitude Adjustment Shoppe is the place to go for your postal, parcel, and shipping needs.
In addition to being a mail drop off, we also accept packages from USPS, FedEx, UPS, and DHL—we can even provide you with a receipt with your tracking number as proof of drop off.
Is mail theft a problem unique to Ojai?
Of course not. This has been happening within Ventura County and other counties and states beyond.
But it IS a problem, and all we can do is try to best protect ourselves from mail theft and porch pirates.
Which is why we at Attitude Adjustment Shoppe have PMBs (private mail boxes) available for rent.
Never worry about your mail or packages again!
Our mail concierge service ensures 24/7 protection, and our automated mail system notifies our clients when their packages are delivered.
We rent our mailboxes by the year, and the smallest box is $162*(we’re the most affordable in town). We even prorate the fee, if you decide to open a mailbox in a few months.
Lastly, no matter where or what you decide to do with your mail, mail theft is still something that’s happening within our town.
Being aware of the issue at hand is a good start, but also be vigilant for any suspicious activity around the mailboxes in town.
It’s unfortunate we need to take these measures, but it’s what’s happening right now. As always, we need to look after our community and each other.
We offer boutique wines and spirits, beer, boxes, office supplies, shirts, and cards.
