Beware of mail thieves. I was working on my computer this morning and
heard some noise out on the porch. I thought it was another one of
those companies passing out election materials. I saw a man in my
driveway who said he was looking for a lost dog. I also saw a box and
some papers in the scrubs next to my porch. I asked him why he was
leaving his garbage on my porch. He said the box was there already
and left. I noticed the box was addressed to my neighbor and was
shipped by UPS.

Well, none of this seemed right so I called 911. The police picked
him up half a block away. He had black gloves and a bunch of other
people's mail stuffed down his pants.

I'm getting a locking mailbox.

Eddy wrote:
> Beware of mail thieves. I was working on my computer this morning and
> heard some noise out on the porch. I thought it was another one of
> those companies passing out election materials. I saw a man in my
> driveway who said he was looking for a lost dog. I also saw a box and
> some papers in the scrubs next to my porch. I asked him why he was
> leaving his garbage on my porch. He said the box was there already
> and left. I noticed the box was addressed to my neighbor and was
> shipped by UPS.
>
> Well, none of this seemed right so I called 911. The police picked
> him up half a block away. He had black gloves and a bunch of other
> people's mail stuffed down his pants.

Wow, were you home by yourself? It took nerve to face the guy.
Good job getting him nailed by the cops.

nancy

In article
>,
Eddy > wrote:

> Beware of mail thieves. I was working on my computer this morning and
> heard some noise out on the porch. I thought it was another one of
> those companies passing out election materials. I saw a man in my
> driveway who said he was looking for a lost dog. I also saw a box and
> some papers in the scrubs next to my porch. I asked him why he was
> leaving his garbage on my porch. He said the box was there already
> and left. I noticed the box was addressed to my neighbor and was
> shipped by UPS.
>
> Well, none of this seemed right so I called 911. The police picked
> him up half a block away. He had black gloves and a bunch of other
> people's mail stuffed down his pants.
>
> I'm getting a locking mailbox.

This problem is exactly why I get all my bills online instead of in the
mail. All that comes to my mailbox now is charity solicitations,
magazines, sales flyers, and other junk mail.

On Oct 26, 5:58*pm, Eddy > wrote:
> Beware of mail thieves. *I was working on my computer this morning and
> heard some noise out on the porch. *I thought it was another one of
> those companies passing out election materials. I saw a man in my
> driveway who said he was looking for a lost dog. *I also saw a box and
> some papers in the scrubs next to my porch. *I asked him why he was
> leaving his garbage on my porch. *He said the box was there already
> and left. *I noticed the box was addressed to my neighbor and was
> shipped by UPS.
>
> Well, none of this seemed right so I called 911. *The police picked
> him up half a block away. *He had black gloves and a bunch of other
> people's mail stuffed down his pants.
>
> I'm getting a locking mailbox.

Put a hungry badger in your mailbox. Make sure your postperson has
sprayed 'badger off' on her hands prior to leaving mail in your box.
You yourself of course will have to do the same unless your badgerly
friend recognizes you.

On Oct 26, 3:10*pm, "Nancy Young" > wrote:
> Eddy wrote:
> > Beware of mail thieves. *I was working on my computer this morning and
> > heard some noise out on the porch. *I thought it was another one of
> > those companies passing out election materials. I saw a man in my
> > driveway who said he was looking for a lost dog. *I also saw a box and
> > some papers in the scrubs next to my porch. *I asked him why he was
> > leaving his garbage on my porch. *He said the box was there already
> > and left. *I noticed the box was addressed to my neighbor and was
> > shipped by UPS.
>
> > Well, none of this seemed right so I called 911. *The police picked
> > him up half a block away. *He had black gloves and a bunch of other
> > people's mail stuffed down his pants.
>
> Wow, were you home by yourself? *It took nerve to face the guy.
> Good job getting him nailed by the cops.
>
> nancy

I was home alone, but he would have to go up 5 steps, turn right and
go up another 7 steps to get to my porch landing. By then my dog
would have been on him.

I was impressed by the police response. After I called 911, I put the
packing material back in the box and took it to the neighbor 2 doors
down. By the time I got there, 2 police patrol cars were there to
meet me. Probably 3 minutes tops. There is a police substation less
than a mile away.

"Eddy" > wrote
>I was impressed by the police response. After I called 911, I put the
>packing material back in the box and took it to the neighbor 2 doors
>down. By the time I got there, 2 police patrol cars were there to
>meet me. Probably 3 minutes tops. There is a police substation less
>than a mile away.

That is good response time. Are you in a large city?

On Oct 26, 4:13*pm, "cybercat" > wrote:
> "Eddy" > wrote
>
> >I was impressed by the police response. *After I called 911, I put the
> >packing material back in the box and took it to the neighbor 2 doors
> >down. *By the time I got there, 2 police patrol cars were there to
> >meet me. *Probably 3 minutes tops. *There is a police substation less
> >than a mile away.
>
> That is good response time. Are you in a large city?

Population of about 200,000. I live less than a mile from the police
substation.

Eddy wrote:
<snip>
> I'm getting a locking mailbox.

How does the mailman put the mail into it if it is locked?
--
Janet Wilder
Way-the-heck-south Texas
Spelling doesn't count. Cooking does.

cybercat wrote:

> "Eddy" > wrote
>> I was impressed by the police response. After I called 911, I put
>> the packing material back in the box and took it to the neighbor 2
>> doors down. By the time I got there, 2 police patrol cars were
>> there to meet me. Probably 3 minutes tops. There is a police
>> substation less than a mile away.
>
> That is good response time. Are you in a large city?


R U kidding, here in Chicawgo 911 would would LAFF at a sitch like this and
then hang up the phone on ya...unless it's a life or death matter chances
are they won't even respond at all.

Eddy got an excellent response time and and additionally they got the perp.
IIRC the postal service can also get their pound of flesh from the creep,
they can be pretty effective in dealing with such crimes.


--
Best
Greg

Eddy wrote:
> On Oct 26, 3:10 pm, "Nancy Young" > wrote:

>> Wow, were you home by yourself? It took nerve to face the guy.
>> Good job getting him nailed by the cops.

> I was home alone, but he would have to go up 5 steps, turn right and
> go up another 7 steps to get to my porch landing. By then my dog
> would have been on him.

That's good. I'm not worried about being by myself, but once
in a while if some questionable person came to the door, you
realize no one else is around, everyone's at work.

A nice protective dog isn't a bad idea, either. Just glad you
weren't face to face with the creep.

> I was impressed by the police response. After I called 911, I put the
> packing material back in the box and took it to the neighbor 2 doors
> down. By the time I got there, 2 police patrol cars were there to
> meet me. Probably 3 minutes tops. There is a police substation less
> than a mile away.

Very handy. I think they just have patrols distributed relatively
evenly through my township so there's one in the area.

nancy

On Oct 26, 5:29*pm, Janet Wilder > wrote:
> Eddy wrote:
>
> <snip>
>
> > I'm getting a locking mailbox.
>
> How does the mailman put the mail into it if it is locked?
> --
> Janet Wilder
> Way-the-heck-south Texas
> Spelling doesn't count. *Cooking does.

There is a slot in the top to drop the mail in. To get the mail out,
you need a key to open it.

Eddy wrote:
> On Oct 26, 5:29 pm, Janet Wilder > wrote:
>> Eddy wrote:
>>
>> <snip>
>>
>>> I'm getting a locking mailbox.
>> How does the mailman put the mail into it if it is locked?
>> --
>> Janet Wilder
>> Way-the-heck-south Texas
>> Spelling doesn't count. Cooking does.
>
> There is a slot in the top to drop the mail in. To get the mail out,
> you need a key to open it.

Oh. Thanks.

--
Janet Wilder
Way-the-heck-south Texas
Spelling doesn't count. Cooking does.

"Stan Horwitz" > wrote in message
...
>
> This problem is exactly why I get all my bills online instead of in the
> mail. All that comes to my mailbox now is charity solicitations,
> magazines, sales flyers, and other junk mail.

Same here. The company I work for was mailing our pay stubs (direct
deposit) but I was so happy that after a couple of months of doing that they
went all electronic with pay stubs. Not only is it a worry someone will
steal your mail, but my mailman is notorious for mixing up our neighborhood
mail Nothing with PII other than just my name and address is delivered by
mail anymore.

On Oct 26, 7:22*pm, "Cheryl" > wrote:
> "Stan Horwitz" > wrote in message
>
> ...
>
>
>
> > This problem is exactly why I get all my bills online instead of in the
> > mail. All that comes to my mailbox now is charity solicitations,
> > magazines, sales flyers, and other junk mail.
>
> Same here. *The company I work for was mailing our pay stubs (direct
> deposit) but I was so happy that after a couple of months of doing that they
> went all electronic with pay stubs. *Not only is it a worry someone will
> steal your mail, but my mailman is notorious for mixing up our neighborhood
> mail *Nothing with PII other than just my name and address is delivered by
> mail anymore.

The last company I worked for we were required to have direct deposit
of out paychecks. I wish we had direct deposit for travel expenses.
If I was on the road for a week, my travel expenses were in the range
of $500 to $700. I hated to have those checks mailed to me.

Now, back to the topic of food. I just love my neighbors. When word
spread around the neighborhood about the thief and the police, two
neighbors brought me homemade cookies and one brought me a loaf of
homemade bread. It's a great neighborhood and I hope it stays safe.

Eddy wrote:

>> How does the mailman put the mail into it if it is locked?

> There is a slot in the top to drop the mail in. To get the mail out,
> you need a key to open it.

It's always been like that in Italy. We have too many assholes around
--
Vilco
Mai guardare Trailer park Boys senza
qualcosa da bere a portata di mano

On Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:22:28 -0400, "Cheryl" >
wrote:

>Same here. The company I work for was mailing our pay stubs (direct
>deposit) but I was so happy that after a couple of months of doing that they
>went all electronic with pay stubs. Not only is it a worry someone will
>steal your mail, but my mailman is notorious for mixing up our neighborhood
>mail Nothing with PII other than just my name and address is delivered by
>mail anymore.

Huh. I haven't even thought about mail theft in years.


--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

On Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:29:42 -0500, Janet Wilder
> wrote:

>Eddy wrote:
><snip>
>> I'm getting a locking mailbox.
>
>How does the mailman put the mail into it if it is locked?

Probably the same way your gardener gets into the backyard through a
locked fence.

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

sf wrote:

>
> Huh. I haven't even thought about mail theft in years.
>
>

When we lived in RI in the early 80s there were two brothers in
the neighborhood, ages 4 and 6 or thereabouts, who would break
into the cluster boxes we had. They'd tear up the mail and throw
it around on the street. When a postal inspector visited their
house, Idiot Mother's response was "Well, what do you want ME to
do about it. Lock them up, why don't you."

Yet another reason we were not too sorry to leave what had once
been an idyllic neighborhood when the chance to move to Colorado
presented itself.

gloria p

On Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:14:56 -0600, "gloria.p" >
wrote:

>sf wrote:
>
>>
>> Huh. I haven't even thought about mail theft in years.
>>
>>
>
>When we lived in RI in the early 80s there were two brothers in
>the neighborhood, ages 4 and 6 or thereabouts, who would break
>into the cluster boxes we had. They'd tear up the mail and throw
>it around on the street. When a postal inspector visited their
>house, Idiot Mother's response was "Well, what do you want ME to
>do about it. Lock them up, why don't you."
>
>Yet another reason we were not too sorry to leave what had once
>been an idyllic neighborhood when the chance to move to Colorado
>presented itself.
>
I'm surprised child protective services wasn't called. There is more
than one way to neglect a child.

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

"sf" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:29:42 -0500, Janet Wilder
> > wrote:
>
>>Eddy wrote:
>><snip>
>>> I'm getting a locking mailbox.
>>
>>How does the mailman put the mail into it if it is locked?
>
> Probably the same way your gardener gets into the backyard through a
> locked fence.

Climbs over the mailbox???

On Oct 28, 4:14*am, "gloria.p" > wrote:
> sf wrote:
>
> > Huh. *I haven't even thought about mail theft in years.
>
> When we lived in RI in the early 80s there were two brothers in
> the neighborhood, ages 4 and 6 or thereabouts, who would break
> into the cluster boxes we had. *They'd tear up the mail and throw
> it around on the street. *When a postal inspector visited their
> house, Idiot Mother's response was *"Well, what do you want ME to
> do about it. *Lock them up, why don't you."
>
> Yet another reason we were not too sorry to leave what had once
> been an idyllic neighborhood when the chance to move to Colorado
> presented itself.
>
> gloria p

What on earth was she doing letting children that age out to play
unsupervised?

This is the sort of mother who would then be looking for someone to
blame for everything else.

JB

"ViLco" ha scritto nel messaggio

>>> How does the mailman put the mail into it if it is locked?
>
>> There is a slot in the top to drop the mail in. To get the mail out,>>
>> you need a key to open it.
>
> It's always been like that in Italy. We have too many assholes around

And some of them work for the postal services. My Christmas and birthday
gifts get opened and rifled. I get what they didn't want, or often I get
nothing. If I ever receive a package whole, they require that I pay customs
on it, even though the law says I can receive a certain amount of gifts from
family and friends. Last Christmas I refused my gifts because they wanted
80 euro in fees for the two packages of odds and ends. Some things in the
packages from my friend who loves charity shops were used!

"Giusi" > wrote in message
...
>
> "ViLco" ha scritto nel messaggio
>
>>>> How does the mailman put the mail into it if it is locked?
>>
>>> There is a slot in the top to drop the mail in. To get the mail out,>>
>>> you need a key to open it.
>>
>> It's always been like that in Italy. We have too many assholes around
>
> And some of them work for the postal services. My Christmas and birthday
> gifts get opened and rifled. I get what they didn't want, or often I get
> nothing. If I ever receive a package whole, they require that I pay
> customs on it, even though the law says I can receive a certain amount of
> gifts from family and friends. Last Christmas I refused my gifts because
> they wanted 80 euro in fees for the two packages of odds and ends. Some
> things in the packages from my friend who loves charity shops were used!

That is dreadful!!!! I had no idea

Giusi wrote:
> "ViLco" ha scritto nel messaggio
>
>>>> How does the mailman put the mail into it if it is locked?
>>> There is a slot in the top to drop the mail in. To get the mail out,>>
>>> you need a key to open it.
>> It's always been like that in Italy. We have too many assholes around
>
> And some of them work for the postal services. My Christmas and birthday
> gifts get opened and rifled. I get what they didn't want, or often I get
> nothing. If I ever receive a package whole, they require that I pay customs
> on it, even though the law says I can receive a certain amount of gifts from
> family and friends. Last Christmas I refused my gifts because they wanted
> 80 euro in fees for the two packages of odds and ends. Some things in the
> packages from my friend who loves charity shops were used!
>
>

Is that the country sponsored mail system only? Or does UPS type
companies handle things the same way?

Just curious.

Bob

"Bob Muncie" ha scritto nel messaggio
> Giusi wrote:
>> "ViLco" ha scritto nel messaggio
>>
>>>>> How does the mailman put the mail into it if it is locked?
>>>> There is a slot in the top to drop the mail in. To get the mail out,>>
>>>> >>> you need a key to open it.

>>> It's always been like that in Italy. We have too many assholes around
>>
>> And some of them work for the postal services. My Christmas and birthday
>> >> gifts get opened and rifled. I get what they didn't want, or often I
>> get >> nothing. If I ever receive a package whole, they require that I
>> pay customs >> on it, even though the law says I can receive a certain
>> amount of gifts from >> family and friends. Last Christmas I refused my
>> gifts because they wanted 80 euro in fees for the two packages of odds
>> and ends. Some things in the >> packages from my friend who loves
>> charity shops were used!
>
> Is that the country sponsored mail system only? Or does UPS type >
> companies handle things the same way?
>
> Just curious.

No change to customs fees, of course. Customs, dogana, charges for
inspecting, for postage on to the recipient from them and always IVA or VAT
on the shipping and the value.

The difference is that UPS FedEx, etc. usually aren't rifled, but some years
back a small packet to my kid which would have cost euro 3.90 to send, cost
euro 45 to send via UPS.

On Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:49:15 +0100, "Giusi" >
wrote:

>And some of them work for the postal services. My Christmas and birthday
>gifts get opened and rifled. I get what they didn't want, or often I get
>nothing. If I ever receive a package whole, they require that I pay customs
>on it, even though the law says I can receive a certain amount of gifts from
>family and friends. Last Christmas I refused my gifts because they wanted
>80 euro in fees for the two packages of odds and ends. Some things in the
>packages from my friend who loves charity shops were used!

I heard a story about wine being shipped in the US via UPS or one of
those other non US postal companies. Apparently someone didn't
approve of this. The box was opened, bottles emptied and the package
was resealed. Fortunately, they picked the package up at the office
and noticed how light it was. The supervisor had a suspect in mind
immediately. I guess there had been problems before.

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

"Ophelia" > wrote
> That is dreadful!!!! I had no idea

It really is terrible.

Golden One wrote:
> On Oct 28, 4:14 am, "gloria.p" > wrote:
>> sf wrote:
>>
>>> Huh. I haven't even thought about mail theft in years.
>> When we lived in RI in the early 80s there were two brothers in
>> the neighborhood, ages 4 and 6 or thereabouts, who would break
>> into the cluster boxes we had. They'd tear up the mail and throw
>> it around on the street. When a postal inspector visited their
>> house, Idiot Mother's response was "Well, what do you want ME to
>> do about it. Lock them up, why don't you."
>>
>
> What on earth was she doing letting children that age out to play
> unsupervised?
>
> This is the sort of mother who would then be looking for someone to
> blame for everything else.
>
> JB

Pretty much. The neighborhood of 50 houses fronted onto a
two-lane country highway. Once you got beyond the
front houses, it was an ideal neighborhood for kids to play.
Surrounding the neighborhood on three sides were fields and
woods. Most of the families were friends and we looked out
for one another's kids.

The mother mentioned was overwhelmed and not the brightest bulb
in the chandelier. We tried to keep an eye on their younger boys
but it was hard because they evidently had no rules or structure
in their house. They ate lunch with us occasionally, other times
I'd see one or the other immediately after the kindergarten bus
dropped off the neighborhood kids. Everyone else would be getting
ready for lunch. They'd be wandering around, eating out of a big
box of Cheerios or a bag of chips.

This was in the mid-late 70s and early 80s. There was always one
"L." kid or other in trouble at school or with the law. Child
Protective Services had their hands full with the cities. Us
rural folk and our kids were on our own.

gloria p

"sf" > wrote in message
...
> On Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:49:15 +0100, "Giusi" >
> wrote:
>
>>And some of them work for the postal services. My Christmas and birthday
>>gifts get opened and rifled. I get what they didn't want, or often I get
>>nothing. If I ever receive a package whole, they require that I pay
>>customs
>>on it, even though the law says I can receive a certain amount of gifts
>>from
>>family and friends. Last Christmas I refused my gifts because they wanted
>>80 euro in fees for the two packages of odds and ends. Some things in the
>>packages from my friend who loves charity shops were used!
>
> I heard a story about wine being shipped in the US via UPS or one of
> those other non US postal companies. Apparently someone didn't
> approve of this. The box was opened, bottles emptied and the package
> was resealed. Fortunately, they picked the package up at the office
> and noticed how light it was. The supervisor had a suspect in mind
> immediately. I guess there had been problems before.

A few years ago, a friend in Scotland sent smoked salmon to a few of us. One
out of four received it. The gentleman in Tuscany where we stayed will no
longer try to send his olive oil in the mail. It rarely is ever received.

Many years ago I worked in a grocery store while in high school. The owner
bought Polish canned hams packed 6 cans to a wood crate. It was not
uncommon to get five cans of ham and a rock.

On Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:58:39 -0400, "Ed Pawlowski" >
wrote:

>
>"sf" > wrote in message
.. .
>> On Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:49:15 +0100, "Giusi" >
>> wrote:
>>
>>>And some of them work for the postal services. My Christmas and birthday
>>>gifts get opened and rifled. I get what they didn't want, or often I get
>>>nothing. If I ever receive a package whole, they require that I pay
>>>customs
>>>on it, even though the law says I can receive a certain amount of gifts
>>>from
>>>family and friends. Last Christmas I refused my gifts because they wanted
>>>80 euro in fees for the two packages of odds and ends. Some things in the
>>>packages from my friend who loves charity shops were used!
>>
>> I heard a story about wine being shipped in the US via UPS or one of
>> those other non US postal companies. Apparently someone didn't
>> approve of this. The box was opened, bottles emptied and the package
>> was resealed. Fortunately, they picked the package up at the office
>> and noticed how light it was. The supervisor had a suspect in mind
>> immediately. I guess there had been problems before.
>
>A few years ago, a friend in Scotland sent smoked salmon to a few of us. One
>out of four received it. The gentleman in Tuscany where we stayed will no
>longer try to send his olive oil in the mail. It rarely is ever received.
>
>Many years ago I worked in a grocery store while in high school. The owner
>bought Polish canned hams packed 6 cans to a wood crate. It was not
>uncommon to get five cans of ham and a rock.
>
Makes you appreciate that as imperfect as it is, the system we have is
better than most!

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

Giusi wrote:

>> It's always been like that in Italy. We have too many assholes around

> And some of them work for the postal services. My Christmas and
> birthday gifts get opened and rifled.

That has still to happen here in my town, but I suspect it's only a matter
of minutes.

> I get what they didn't want, or often I get nothing.

Same as here. SOmetimes one has to pay a visit to the local postoffice and
yell "WTF!!"

> If I ever receive a package whole, they
> require that I pay customs on it, even though the law says I can
> receive a certain amount of gifts from family and friends.

Strange, the form I got from Malpensa airport explained plain and clear that
"gift" is not an acceptable motivation and that a price must anyway be
scecified. But I got screwed because I didn't know the exact content of the
package from USA they had blocked.
Totally ridiculous since the list of contents war printed on the package
they had in theyr hands. Ridiculous is a too small word for this kind of
things.

> Last Christmas I refused my gifts because they wanted 80 euro in fees for
> the two packages of odds and ends. Some things in the packages from
> my friend who loves charity shops were used!

Yeah, they went crazy soem years ago.
--
Vilco
Mai guardare Trailer park Boys senza
qualcosa da bere a portata di mano

Ophelia wrote:

>> And some of them work for the postal services. My Christmas and
>> birthday gifts get opened and rifled. I get what they didn't want,
>> or often I get nothing. If I ever receive a package whole, they
>> require that I pay customs on it, even though the law says I can
>> receive a certain amount of gifts from family and friends. Last
>> Christmas I refused my gifts because they wanted 80 euro in fees for
>> the two packages of odds and ends. Some things in the packages from
>> my friend who loves charity shops were used!

> That is dreadful!!!! I had no idea

If you look on eBay you'll see that many vendors explicitly write "We will
not ship goods to the following countries: " and there you read a list of
african countries and... yes, Italy.
And while the quality of the service was dropping at rocket speed, they
started to work as a bank, just to put some more people in the neverending
lines at the post offices and distract some more personnel from they primary
mission.
--
Vilco
Mai guardare Trailer park Boys senza
qualcosa da bere a portata di mano

On Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:58:39 -0400, "Ed Pawlowski" >
wrote:

>
>"sf" > wrote in message
.. .
>> On Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:49:15 +0100, "Giusi" >
>> wrote:
>>
>>>And some of them work for the postal services. My Christmas and birthday
>>>gifts get opened and rifled. I get what they didn't want, or often I get
>>>nothing. If I ever receive a package whole, they require that I pay
>>>customs
>>>on it, even though the law says I can receive a certain amount of gifts
>>>from
>>>family and friends. Last Christmas I refused my gifts because they wanted
>>>80 euro in fees for the two packages of odds and ends. Some things in the
>>>packages from my friend who loves charity shops were used!
>>
>> I heard a story about wine being shipped in the US via UPS or one of
>> those other non US postal companies. Apparently someone didn't
>> approve of this. The box was opened, bottles emptied and the package
>> was resealed. Fortunately, they picked the package up at the office
>> and noticed how light it was. The supervisor had a suspect in mind
>> immediately. I guess there had been problems before.
>
>A few years ago, a friend in Scotland sent smoked salmon to a few of us. One
>out of four received it. The gentleman in Tuscany where we stayed will no
>longer try to send his olive oil in the mail. It rarely is ever received.
>
>Many years ago I worked in a grocery store while in high school. The owner
>bought Polish canned hams packed 6 cans to a wood crate. It was not
>uncommon to get five cans of ham and a rock.
>
That crate with a rock was more likely from a US wholesaler's
warehouse worker or company truck driver, or from an exporter's
warehouse employee before leaving the plant... imported canned hams
would be transported in huge containers under refrigeration, that type
of product would typically arrive by refrigerator ship and immediately
trucked to the wholesalers warehouse where the customs inspectors
would unseal the containers and inspect the contents. The custom
inspectors wouldn't be attempting to fool anyone with a rock, they
would simply take what they wanted, they would always take a certain
percentage for lab testing before they'd release the shipment. It's
pretty involved how imported shipments go through customs, especially
refrigerated items.

Many years ago I worked for an import export broker, my job was to
expedite packages through US Customs at the NYC airports... mostly I'd
open crates for inspection and then reseal (hammer and crowbar
warehouse work). Even small shipments of foods from private parties
had to be inspected and any that were leaking or an odor was present
would be confiscated and discarded. Often the inspectors would "glom"
samples from the large importers/exporters where a shipment could fill
the entire cargo plane but they didn't take samples from private
partys, anything smelly/leaking went right in the trash. I saw many
gift packages destroyed due to improper packaging and/or improper
documentation or lack of documentation... and not just foods, often
expensive perfumes/cosmetics were confiscated and dumped. And that
was a long time ago, long before all the new terrorist laws... I'm
sure that customs inspection is much more stringent now. My more
interesting days dealt with shipments of live animals,

Ed Pawlowski wrote:

>
> Many years ago I worked in a grocery store while in high school. The owner
> bought Polish canned hams packed 6 cans to a wood crate. It was not
> uncommon to get five cans of ham and a rock.
>
>

Those were very good hams, Krakus or Atalanta brand.



gloria p

Ophelia wrote:

> "Giusi" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> "ViLco" ha scritto nel messaggio
>>
>>>>> How does the mailman put the mail into it if it is locked?
>>>
>>>> There is a slot in the top to drop the mail in. To get the mail
>>>> out,>> you need a key to open it.
>>>
>>> It's always been like that in Italy. We have too many assholes
>>> around
>>
>> And some of them work for the postal services. My Christmas and
>> birthday gifts get opened and rifled. I get what they didn't want,
>> or often I get nothing. If I ever receive a package whole, they
>> require that I pay customs on it, even though the law says I can
>> receive a certain amount of gifts from family and friends. Last
>> Christmas I refused my gifts because they wanted 80 euro in fees for
>> the two packages of odds and ends. Some things in the packages from
>> my friend who loves charity shops were used!
>
> That is dreadful!!!! I had no idea


Italian postal authorities probably levies such high duties because the
Italian govt. has to levy and collect *some* taxes, Ms. O...

;-)


--
Best
Greg

In article >,
says...
>
> "ViLco" ha scritto nel messaggio
>
> >>> How does the mailman put the mail into it if it is locked?
> >
> >> There is a slot in the top to drop the mail in. To get the mail out,>>
> >> you need a key to open it.
> >
> > It's always been like that in Italy. We have too many assholes around
>
> And some of them work for the postal services. My Christmas and birthday
> gifts get opened and rifled. I get what they didn't want, or often I get
> nothing. If I ever receive a package whole, they require that I pay customs
> on it, even though the law says I can receive a certain amount of gifts from
> family and friends. Last Christmas I refused my gifts because they wanted
> 80 euro in fees for the two packages of odds and ends. Some things in the
> packages from my friend who loves charity shops were used!

Wow, friend of ours just shipped a pair of shoes to Italy. It took
awhile for the package to be delivered.

That said, this is why I love living in an urban environment. There's a
mail slot on my front door. Once it's in, it's in.