Mailbox Security The Homemade Way

[BIG DOOLEY]

No bends.
1/8" and 1/4" stainless steel sheet.
Kwickset deadbolt lock keyed the same as my house door key
Magnetic pads to hold door shut.
Schedule 80 stainless 3" pipe cemented 5' deep in the ground.
Box is bolted to pipe mount plate inside with 3/8" allen socket cap screws inside.
S.S. hinges welded
Hammered paint finish
All pieces hand gut with Metabo grinder and cutoff wheel
Spring tension hold flag in any position.
Top front slot is for incoming mail
Bottom front slot is for outgoing mail with back so it cannot fall inside.
All welds are tig done with Miller AC/DCthunderbolt welder.
Father in-law back into the box not long ago with Chevy K3500 dooley and shattered his rear quarter panel.
Minor scuff to paint that i rubbed out by hand.
Reflective tape lettering.
Recently added some more DOT tape to post on both sides vertically.
I usually send no mail outbound but rather drop off at post office or use a USPS Blue drop box on way to work.

 

[jake98]

That's like a James Bond mailbox!

 

[Thomas]

That should stand about any Halloween test.

 

[creekbend]

Well done. :thumbsup:

 

[murphy1244]

Could of used that last year as mine got smashed 3 times

 

[TCJatko]

Is it "Post Office approved"?:laughing:Very nicely done, by the way.

 

[BIG DOOLEY]

Thanks guys
Local police came to my kids school and gave a discussion about on-line predators, Identity theft, mail security......
Mail is one of the easiest ways for people to gain information, signatures... and use this info. to aid in identity theft.
The police pointed out you should not put your outgoing mail in your mailbox.
Instead use a drop box or take it directly to the post office.
My brother in-law had been having a rash of mailbox vandals about the same time.
He had to replace his mailbox 5 times in a very short period.
Drive by vandals were going around smashing them.
He would come home to find his mail scattered on the road side.
We have medication for the family delivered thru a mail order service and it made sense to beef up the security.
If you go out of town or do alot of camping... it is nice that people don't see the mailbox full, an indication you are not home.
That could also lead to a break -in.

 

[Shield Arc]

Nice job!
Not sure I understand how it works! If the post office delivery person can deliver your mail in the front, why do you need a lock in back?

 

[BIG DOOLEY]

Nice job!
Not sure I understand how it works! If the post office delivery person can deliver your mail in the front, why do you need a lock in back?

The mail falls into the bottom of the box and it is difficult to reach inside and pull the mail out.
The slot for incoming mail is small enough that it is hard to attempt to reach inside for the mail.
Pull your mail out from the lock door in the back.
If you have a ditch behind your box, make the box a little taller and the door with the lock would be located on the front.
http://www.fortknoxmailbox.com/pages/vacationer.htm

 

[Shield Arc]

Oh I see now!:thumbsup:
But that would never work in my area, every one who works for the post office around here is dumber than a box of rocks! Most of them can't even read!