Stealing mail is nothing new, but it’s been on the rise in recent years.
Truthfully, this is not surprising with the increase in credit card fraud, identity theft, and online shopping. Also, since mail deliveries occur during the day when most people are not at home, it’s an easy target for mail thieves. If you do a quick search for news articles regarding mail theft, you will find many more cases than you would ever care to read about.
If you suspect someone is stealing your mail, you can File a Mail Theft Complaint online with the US Postal Service or over the phone (1-800-275-8777). However, unless there are very widespread problems in a particular geographical area, it’s unlikely you will see much response.
Prevention is the Key
It would be great if you could just put some type of lock on your existing mailbox, but since your mail carrier needs to be able to put mail in while it’s unlocked, this is just not practical. Here are a few prevention tips to decrease the odds of someone stealing mail:
- Retrieve your mail as soon as you’re able and never let it sit overnight (Install an inexpensive mail alert to see when it’s been delivered)
- Notify your Post Office when you will be out of town and they will hold your mail
- Ask a neighbor to pick up your mail if you are expecting something of value
- Establish a neighborhood watch program to oversee each other’s mailboxes
Curbside DIY Locking Mailboxes
Security mailboxes are now readily available for residential use and most are not very difficult to install for the DIYer. Here are our top recommendations and a few notes on each:
- Under $100
- Able to be installed on a regular 4×4 wood post or metal post
- Will hold several days worth of mail and accepts small packages
- Includes mounting hardware
- Also available in bronze or white
- Under $100
- Requires manufacturer’s adapter or metal post for installation
- Will hold several days worth of mail and accepts small packages
- Does not include hardware
- Also available in graphite, bronze or white
- Under $200
- Can be installed on your own 4×4 wood post or metal post
- Concealed tray for outgoing mail
- Holds lots of mail and some small-to-medium packages
- Includes hardware and reflective address numbers
- Less than $110
- Can be installed on your own 4×4 wood post
- Can be accessed from the rear
- Holds a lot of mail and some small-to-medium packages
- Includes hardware and reflective address numbers
Wall Mount DIY Locking Mailboxes
- Under $60
- Partial aluminum construction, remainder is plastic
- Includes outgoing mail slot & flag
- Holds 2-3 days mail
- Mounting hardware included
- Available in white
Nancy Henderson
Your Mailboxes are the UGLIEST things I’ve seen. Can’t you get a woman designer in there to design a handsome and lockable mailbox?