def split_block_lot(blocklot):
    """
    Separates out block data from block and lot 
    
    Args:
        blocklot (str): The original block and lot data from the file

    Returns:
        [block, lot] (str): A list with the block and lot stored separately as strings
    """
    if len(blocklot) == 6:                  # if the string is only six characters long,
        return [blocklot[:3], blocklot[3:]] # take only the first three chars.
    elif blocklot[4].isalpha():             # but if the fifth char is a letter,
        return [blocklot[:5], blocklot[5:]] # then we take the first five chars.
    else:
        return [blocklot[:4], blocklot[4:]]