I got a message today from a police officer which read, in part:

Please advise that someone mistook what was happening for a drug exchange and I was told to collect it [the letterbox]. I read the enclosed paper and don't really want to log it into property and then have it destroyed.

Hopefully the box won't get logged into property and then be destroyed, but remember when you're out there letterboxing, so those who don't letterbox, it could look VERY suspicious. At least it wasn't a bomb scare, but having a letterbox mistaken for a drug exchange isn't a whole lot better either!

-- Ryan

Holy Moley!

Kudos for the police officer who took to time to contact you respectfully.

Was this a box of yours? Wow, cool officer~
keep us posted as to what happens!

Six stars

Was this a box of yours?

No, not mine. Just a message that was sent to the admin board.

-- Ryan

It is one of my boxes that the police blocked off the street, brought out the drug-sniffing dogs and were considering bringing the bomb squad out to take care of this report of a possible drug exchange. It is an urban box in a high traffic area. The police were very nice about it, holding it until I return to town and pick it up from the police station tomorrow. She suggested no camo, use clear baggies or clear boxes to contain these things, especially with summer being high terror alert climate.

This is the box at Borders for any who have boxed in Louisville.

That's cool that they actually gave you suggestions for what sort of containers to use and didn't just forbid you to replant (or plant at all for that matter).

Knit Wit

Wow! What day did this happen? I was in that store Saturday buying a new atlas and moleskin journals.

This kind of mentality just frosts my buns. Yes, we live in a post-9-11 world, and yes, there are things to be watchful of but I am reminded of the phrase, "when the only tool you have in the tool box is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail." Don't elect fear. heyokah man

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This kind of mentality just frosts my buns. Yes, we live in a post-9-11 world, and yes, there are things to be watchful of but I am reminded of the phrase, "when the only tool you have in the tool box is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail." Don't elect fear. heyokah man

Well, put it into perspective that the police were called out for suspicious behavior, possibly drug related, which isn't the first time someone has thought that one of my boxes was a drug drop, nor is it the first time I've had to deal with the police with letterboxing (last year's fun Valdese, NC adventure that they so kindly posed for a photo next to their police car after all was said and done). The two businesses that overlook the area are a jeweler and State Farm Insurance. Like a good neighbor, they're there, so probably one of them watched the retrieval and replacement of the box. The nice lady officer said that it was because it was in a camo baggie that they called out the dog.

Heh, a boxing buddy has arrived while I was out of town. I wonder if I should take a photo... I'm not serious, y'all.

Speedsquare, probably today or yesterday. The officer was going off-shift at 5 today. The email that Ryan received indcated contacting her before that time in order to keep the box from hitting property dept and being destroyed. From a humorous standpoint, this is the box that was in a nice bush by one of the two trees saved when they paved over and put the free standing shopping extravaganza/Home Depot/Target/Smokey Bones/some other restaurants & Borders in at the front of the store. Said bushes were ripped out at some point last year, the box turned into Borders, with someone on staff and stamping in, putting it out by the tree, where it was spotted and picked up by TP, a local boxer, who was bringing a newbie over to find a letterbox.

Overall, I'd say a positive experience so far, with the reporting of strange behavior, the police being considerate enough to make contact here and making arrangements to return the piece, as well as offer suggestions on how to keep future boxes from not being so suspicious. Something we all possibly could encounter as we plant letterboxes, especially in urban scenes.