Anti-Theft Mailboxes – Protecting Your Identity
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.