If you're someone who travels or is concerned about your mail being lost/stolen when you're not home, a security mail box can help. By having a secured mailbox with a key lock, it can prevent people from attempting to steal your mail and provides you a sense of relief if you are expecting urgent or important mail.
Also, as a safety precaution, no one will know when you brought your mail in or if you are out of town. With my previous standard mail box, it was very obvious if there was mail all the way from the street. The reason I upgraded my mailbox is because the news was saying many people locally have been getting their mail stolen and this mailbox makes me feel more secure.
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This sounds like a good idea but I cannot see how your mail or packages can be delivered unless the mail person has a key.
I live in Florida and our mail carriers are not allowed to have keys to personal mailboxes.
Good question! So heyitsthao, what's the answer to this question? And, just as important, how much does this cost to buy and install?
The picture shows the key dangling, the postman opens the box, puts package inside , locks it and puts the key in the slot shown on front - its like they do at the community mailboxes - hope that helps
See the key? The postman opens it, places item, locks it and then puts key in slot shown on front - hope this helps
Here's an Amazon link to security mailboxes...
www.amazon.com/
How do I get ahold of one of these? What do I call this so I can do an internet search for it-- do I search under "security mailbox?" I'm moving to an apartment and I'm afraid any Amazon stuff will get swiped. The property manager there wasn't very friendly or helpful regarding tenants getting packages that don't fit in the rinky-dink mailbox thingys we have.
This is a post from 2017 but I'm not sure that anyone has made it very clear about how these 'security' mail boxes really work.
This posting shows a 'lock' mailbox with a key dangling from the lock and explanation was provided by several people that the mail carrier unlocks the box, places mail inside, locks the box and then places key in slot.
USPS has so many rules about where you can place a mailbox that anyone considering making changes should discuss this with someone in charge at a nearby post office as a mail carrier would probably not know all the rules and regulations concerning things like this.
As an example; if you presently receive your mail in a box on the street you cannot just change your box to your door unless you are disabled and acquire special permission.
Also; if your box is across the street/road from your house you cannot move it to your side of the street.
Security boxes are used more by businesses than private people and most boxes have a larger secure 'opening' that allows the carrier to place mail in the box but makes it difficult for someone to remove the mail.
I worked in postal management for 26 years and I know that rules about mail service boxes can be complicated and any changes you would like to make should be discussed (and approved) by postal management or your mail service may be discontinued until this is done.
Fact: No USPS personnel can keep/have a key to a private mail box with the exception of the 'cluster boxes' that are often used in apartment areas, trailer parks, office buildings, and even rural areas.
Information from the USPS handbook:
"632.2 Keys to Customers Private Mail Receptacle
632.21 General
Carriers are prohibited from accepting keys for locks on private mail receptacles, buildings, or offices, except where an electromechanical door lock system or a key keeper box located within convenient reach of the door is used. Both devices must incorporate an Arrow lock to access the key or device needed to gain entry to the building. If customers place locks on their receptacles, the receptacles must have slots large enough to accommodate their normal daily mail volume so that delivery may be made by the carrier without using a key."
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