Mailbox Security Matters
On any given day, the postal carrier might deliver bills you need to pay, checks from businesses, banking information, a gift card enclosed in a birthday card and even small packages. An unsecure mailbox is a tempting target that makes it easy for a thief to quickly grab these items and go. Mail theft creates the potential for financial loss and can even give someone information they need to impersonate you, open credit accounts, etc.
While you can’t eliminate the risk of mail theft completely, there are simple steps you can take to make your mailbox more secure and less inviting to thieves.
6 Mailbox Security Tips
We’ve got ideas for creating a more secure mailbox, but before you make any changes to your mailbox, check with your local Post Office. There are regulations for mailbox type, size etc. that you must follow and you need to clear changes with the Postal Service. If your neighborhood has a Homeowners Association (HOA), it might also have guidelines to follow.
1. Collect Your Mail Promptly
One of the simplest steps you can take toward mailbox security is to collect your mail as soon as possible. Leaving items in the box is an opportunity for someone to take your mail, and if you leave mail in the box for several days, it suggests you’re away, making your home a potential target for theft. If you are away and can’t pick up your mail, consider having a trusted neighbor collect if for you.
2. Consider a Locking Mailbox
A lock creates a more secure mailbox. Depending on the design, a locking mailbox might have a slot to allow a mail carrier to slide letter-size mail into the box or a pull-out door for large mail pieces and small packages. Collecting the mail requires unlocking an access door on the box.
Standalone, personal models are available as post-mount locking mailboxes and wall-mount locking mailboxes. You can also find locking package boxes for large package deliveries. A locking mailbox helps keep your mail secure, but before you invest in one, confirm with your Post Office or delivery service that it’s allowed in your area.
3. Try Postal Service Holds and Notifications
The Post Office offers solutions that protect your mail. Check to see if mail holds and Informed Delivery are available in your area.
- A mail hold tells the Post Office to not deliver your mail until a date you specify. This prevents items from piling up in your mailbox while you’re out of town.
- Informed Delivery tells you which mail pieces and packages are coming from the Post Office each day, typically with a picture of each item. This service lets you know if you should expect something valuable or important. Informed Delivery also lets you easily notify the Post Office if you don’t receive a mail piece.
4. Keep Up With Mailbox Repair and Maintenance
If a locking mailbox isn’t an option in your area, simply maintaining your existing mailbox makes your mail more secure. Repairing a door that doesn’t close fully or that’s missing entirely prevents someone from easily seeing when there’s something of value in your mailbox and keeps your mail from getting wet or being blown out of the box.
If you do have a locking mailbox, make sure it’s easy for you to unlock. If you have to struggle with the lock every day, you might be tempted to leave it unlocked. Lubricate the lock periodically and if it’s not working correctly, find a replacement lock.
5: Install Security Devices
Security devices alert you to activity at your mailbox. A mailbox sensor or mailbox alarm tells you when someone opens your mailbox. It sends alerts to compatible devices or activates compatible smart cameras and lights. As with a locking mailbox, check with your Post Office before installing a sensor.
Security cameras, smart cameras and video doorbells are other ways to monitor your mailbox or collect video evidence for law enforcement if you do experience theft.
6. Make Your Mailbox More Visible
Finally, making sure you and your neighbors can see your mailbox easily is a deterrent to theft. Trees and shrubs shield a mailbox from view, but trimming them so your mailbox is highly visible from your home, from your neighbor’s homes and from the street might make the box less attractive to thieves. If you’re mailbox is on your porch, keeping the area well lit is also a deterrent and might encourage thieves to look for another target.
Let Lowe’s Help With Mailbox Security
From locking mailboxes to security devices, Lowe’s has what you need to make a mailbox more secure. Check with your Post Office and HOA to see what’s possible for your area and then browse Lowes.com for the tools and materials you need for mailbox security. Stop by your local Lowe’s and talk to a Red Vest associate. They can show you available mailbox security options and help you find the right solution for your home.