Another Arlington post office has scaled back access to its lobby over concerns about crime and homelessness.
The Pentagon City post office (1301 S. Fern Street) introduced new restrictions on the hours for both its lobby and its P.O. boxes on July 30, citing “increased safety issues because of vagrancy and crime.”
The lobby, which used to be open 24 hours per day, is now only open from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekdays and 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturdays, according to a notice posted on the door. It is closed on Sundays and holidays, and people can only access their P.O. boxes when the lobby is open.
“The total lobby hours are shifted to better serve the community,” the notice says.
The U.S. Postal Service did not respond to a request for comment.
The decision follows a similar change at the Clarendon post office, which restricted lobby access over “ongoing and serious issues concerning homeless individuals urinating, defecating, starting fires and trashing this location.”
In that location, USPS said it was in the process of installing an automated entry system to let customers with a QR code or fob access the lobby after hours.
It’s unclear whether a similar change is in the works in Pentagon City.
