Identity theft is a major problem in many areas.  To help curtail would-be thieves, many homeowners are installing anti-theft mailboxes by their curbside.

An anti-theft mailbox will help to deter most thieves from stealing your mail.  Many residential mailboxes are available as a one piece set with a built-in locking mechanism.  If your mailbox is not equipped with a lock, you can purchase one from several online retailers.

Locks are essential to help deter thieves and are extremely important when the homeowner is away for several days and unable to retrieve the mail. When searching for a suitable lockable mailbox choose one with a heavy duty lock that cannot easily be pried open. It defeats the purpose of having a lock if someone can easily open it with a screwdriver and a hammer. 

The mailbox should also be constructed of durable material than cannot be damaged or opened with a saw, hammer, chisel or knife. Vandal-resistant steel mailboxes can also withstand typical mailbox abuse from bats, rocks, canned goods and accidental blows from a snowplow.  A snowplow can hit a mailbox and scatter its contents everywhere if the mailbox is not locked.

Also note that the U.S. Postal Service will not open locked boxes nor will they accept a key for that purpose.  Locks can be installed on both post and wall mounted mailboxes.  Remember, when selecting a lockable curbside mailbox, look for one that has a strong lock, the box should be made of durable material and break under pressure from bat-wielding hooligans or snowplows and has a mail slot large enough to accommodate your daily volume of mail.

Related posts:

1. Locking Curbside Mail Box
2. Aluminum Locking Mail Box
3. Oasis Locking Mailbox

Many homeowners are plagued with mischievous mailbox vandalism and errant snow plow drivers.  Several companies offer a strong, vandal-proof mail box which is designed to withstand this type of abuse.

A vandal resistant mail box is more expensive than the typical standard mailbox, but more cost-effective in the long run.  If you can’t afford one of the more expensive models, then you might want to consider keeping half-dozen less expensive boxes on hand for replacement.  Strong vandal resistant mail boxes are built to resist the typical vandal abuse. 

If you are plagued with bat-wielding teenagers playing mailbox baseball in your area, then a standard mailbox is probably not for you. Standard or novelty boxes are wonderful for displaying your sense of style and flair but offer little resistance when it comes to a bat and vehicle traveling at 50 mph! 

Many durable, heavy-duty mailboxes are available from online retailers. These mail boxes, made from reinforced galvanized steel, are perfect for deterring vandalism.  Be cautious when attempting to create your own vandal-proof mailbox. The post office discourages this practice for a number of reasons.  First, many home made mailboxes are not U.S. Postal approved and therefore the mail carrier may not place your mail in the box.  Second, if the mail carrier gets cut or receives a splinter or is injured in any way from your creation, then you can be liable for damages.  And third, approximately 100 motorists are killed every year in collisions with rural mailboxes.  Some residents construct mailboxes with indestructible supports. In a collision, a motor vehicle can be severely damaged and it occupants severely injured or killed.

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Installing a heavy-duty reinforced mail box will go a long ways in helping to reduce mail box vandalism in many areas.

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