By SUSAN PARK

Businesses in Northwest Seattle were recently approached by the U.S. Postal Service and asked if they would be willing to combine their delivery in clustered locked mailboxes similar to those used at apartment complexes.

Because of concerns over the ever increasing personal mailbox mail theft and the recent heisting of four locked blue mailboxes, many business owners are adamant against the idea of putting their valuable office mail in jeopardy. In addition, there is also the inconvenience of having no inner office mail pick-up which means more trips to the Post Office.

At a meeting of the Wallingford Chamber in February, Wallingford Station Post Office manager Donald Hatch, offered consolation to business owners by saying: "We're not going to be forcing anyone to do this ... As you can see, we don't have our clubs with us so it's not something we're going to force down your throats."

Hatch said he is primarily focusing on new building developments where he will set up the new format. Hatch says he has only installed 15 in the area so far, one of which is located at 4321 Linden Ave. N.

"The nice thing about the cluster boxes is it standardizes mail delivery," said Hatch, adding that the boxes are secured in a two foot by two foot pad of concrete.

Simone Andrus, owner of Wide World Books & Maps, says "I personally see it as a reduction of service." Andrus says she mails out about 400 checks a day. "I feel much more secure handing it over to my carrier."

Hatch went on to explain that the current methods of door-to-door service are outdated and are based on methods developed by Ben Franklin 200 years ago. He says that the one-on-one customer service many of the businesses have gotten used to are "partly because of the zealousness of the people (carriers) we have working for us."

Sallye Soltner of Media Services Inc. said: "I think your (the Post Office's) timing on this couldn't be worse in lieu of the stamp increase and so many BIG boxes being ripped off."

Hatch says the new boxes will be strategically located against telephone and utility polls to eliminate the potential for someone to steal them by ramming them with a car.

Andrus also expressed concern over rumors that the Post Office would be taking two valuable street parking spots per clustered mail box to designate as parking for their delivery trucks, but Hatch assured her that the Postal Service could not do that.

In addition, Hatch said he put a moratorium on the installation of clustered boxes along Aurora Avenue where there are legitimate safety concerns. Hatch added that the physical wide spacing of the businesses also makes using clustered boxes inefficient in that location.

Hatch added that of the four blue boxes stolen from North Seattle, all were recovered, arrests had been made, and the thieves were never able to get them open.

Hatch can be reached for questions at 1-800-275-8777.