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How to deter a mailbox thief

#Post
1

ppl are constantly raiding our mailbox - it has been locked and the attempts to break into it are continual - today another lock was ripped off as well as my next door neighbours - we have cameras up our driveway but it’s too far away too see anything - I want to do something to the letterbox or lock so if someone attempts to open it again they’ll get a surprise - any ideas? (Like spikes on the lock?) Or do u think that might not be a good idea? I don’t want to p155 them off and then have them retaliate “as they know where I live” lol

crackle_puff - 2021-06-04 00:14:00
2

Guard dog.

megan109 - 2021-06-04 04:35:00
3

Discuss the problem with your local postie and see if you can move the box to a more suitable place

toyboy3 - 2021-06-04 08:11:00
4
crackle_puff wrote:

ppl are constantly raiding our mailbox - it has been locked and the attempts to break into it are continual - today another lock was ripped off as well as my next door neighbours - we have cameras up our driveway but it’s too far away too see anything - I want to do something to the letterbox or lock so if someone attempts to open it again they’ll get a surprise - any ideas? (Like spikes on the lock?) Or do u think that might not be a good idea? I don’t want to p155 them off and then have them retaliate “as they know where I live” lol

social housing all round you?

gabbysnana - 2021-06-04 08:28:00
5

rat trap in the box?

captaingraham - 2021-06-04 08:40:00
6

Plastic snake, with a note, its a real one next time.

kenw1 - 2021-06-04 08:45:00
7

Report the thefts to the Post Office.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/114993784/mail-thefts
-north-auckland-residents-plan-booby-traps-for-letter-box-th
ieves

Edited by hazelnut2 at 9:05 am, Fri 4 Jun

hazelnut2 - 2021-06-04 08:58:00
8

Advise Police, ask postie for advice, move to a PO box if necessary, make sure you have ATLs that cover leaving parcels in a safer place closer to the house.

Couple of good ideas here
https://trubuildconstruction.com/reviews/4-ways-to-make-your
-mailbox-more-secure

here it tucks the parcels out of sight
https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/home-living/outdoor-
garden-conservatory/letterboxes/letterboxes/listing/31210222
04

Get a sturdy lock and to stop people cutting it with bolt cutters you slot washers along the hasp so that they cannot find a place to push the cutters through.

Some ideas in this thread
https://www.trademe.co.nz/Community/MessageBoard/Messages.as
px?id=1843144&topic=4

Edited by shanreagh at 9:59 am, Fri 4 Jun

shanreagh - 2021-06-04 09:57:00
9

When there was a lot of crime in our street I put two cameras in my letterbox. I got a lot of excellent pictures.

trade4us2 - 2021-06-04 11:06:00
10

Thanks for the advice I’m going to add a mousetrap hehe

crackle_puff - 2021-06-04 15:33:00
11

get rid of it and buy a po box instead

kittylittle - 2021-06-04 16:30:00
12

Get a po box and fill yours with dog poo

carter19 - 2021-06-04 17:52:00
13

Die pack in a parcel

aoc1 - 2021-06-04 20:28:00
14
carter19 wrote:

Get a po box and fill yours with dog poo

People poo is much more offensive,..

lovelurking - 2021-06-04 20:33:00
15

You can buy instant glue Gel.Put it thick around the lock etc,a surface skin will form but it will be wet underneath.When somebody touches it they get it on the fingers and will stick to any surface. When I did that a few years ago there was skin left behind and it was never touched again

androth2 - 2021-06-04 21:24:00
16
captaingraham wrote:

rat trap in the box?

A real rat would deter me more if I was involved in pinching mail.

kacy5 - 2021-06-05 01:06:00
17

How about a big hairy tarantula.

captaingraham - 2021-06-05 09:10:00
18

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4T_LlK1VE4
Or any other of Mark Robers glitter bomb vids.

smyrnia - 2021-06-05 10:04:00
19
smyrnia wrote:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4T_LlK1VE4
Or any other of Mark Robers glitter bomb vids.

38 million views!
I think I will put a box near my gate with an alarm in it. And attached to my gatepost with a steel cable.

trade4us2 - 2021-06-05 13:54:00
20

This message was deleted.

kittycatkin - 2021-06-05 14:03:00
21

This message was deleted.

kittycatkin - 2021-06-05 14:15:00
22
crackle_puff wrote:

Thanks for the advice I’m going to add a mousetrap hehe

If it will fit a Possum trap would be more effective if not the largest RAT Trap..

gazzat22 - 2021-06-05 14:42:00
23

Hook it up to a mains electric fence unit, usually deters them pretty well.

mrcat1 - 2021-06-05 18:16:00
24
mrcat1 wrote:

Hook it up to a mains electric fence unit, usually deters them pretty well.


If it will fit a Possum trap would be more effective if not the largest RAT Trap..

But what about the poor postie? !! You'll never get any mail!

Edited by hazelnut2 at 1:48 pm, Sun 6 Jun

hazelnut2 - 2021-06-06 13:46:00
25
hazelnut2 wrote:


If it will fit a Possum trap would be more effective if not the largest RAT Trap..

But what about the poor postie? !! You'll never get any mail!

yep and you could also face up to 5 years in prison as setting a mantrap is a crime.

sparkychap - 2021-06-06 14:04:00
26
sparkychap wrote:

yep and you could also face up to 5 years in prison as setting a mantrap is a crime.

What if it gets a female?

smallwoods - 2021-06-06 15:07:00
27
smallwoods wrote:

What if it gets a female?

that’s fine, especially as a mantrap can be female anyway:

“mantrap - a woman who is purported to be dangerously seductive or who schemes in her amours; femme fatale.“

Bit like seaqueen, I guess.

Edited by sparkychap at 3:23 pm, Sun 6 Jun

sparkychap - 2021-06-06 15:23:00
28

Put a CCTV sticker near it.

trogedon - 2021-06-06 15:24:00
29
sparkychap wrote:

that’s fine, especially as a mantrap can be female anyway:

“mantrap - a woman who is purported to be dangerously seductive or who schemes in her amours; femme fatale.“

Bit like seaqueen, I guess.

Can't see me fitting the wife in the mail box!

Got say, I pity the fool who opens that Pandora's box!

Edited by smallwoods at 5:30 pm, Sun 6 Jun

smallwoods - 2021-06-06 17:29:00
30

i had one steal load of my mail then he cam back for more so i pretending not to be home got him ! he called cops on me lol i was not very nice lol

Edited by magesticgems at 6:23 am, Mon 7 Jun

magesticgems - 2021-06-07 06:22:00
31

get po box !!!!! nz gone to dogs!

magesticgems - 2021-06-07 06:25:00
32
trogedon wrote:

Put a CCTV sticker near it.

CCTV is no deterrent. Even high res video can’t identify someone with a hoody, cap and head down.

sparkychap - 2021-06-07 07:53:00
33

Battery operated wireless burglar alarm with motion sensor inside mailbox but do warn the postie lol. Search on TM there are many types that should work for your application.

Edited by gamefisher at 10:16 am, Mon 7 Jun

gamefisher - 2021-06-07 10:15:00
34
sparkychap wrote:

CCTV is no deterrent. Even high res video can’t identify someone with a hoody, cap and head down.

So, hide the camera at chest height, facing slightly upwards.
Have cameras pointing both ways along the street so you can get their rego numbers.

trade4us2 - 2021-06-07 12:11:00
35
kittycatkin wrote:

Never fear, Kitty's here.

Mitre 10 have lockable metal letterboxes for $54 (locks are part of the letterbox, so can't be broken off). They have good reviews, especially the white one. Wooden ones are $5 less but have bad reviews. Bunnings has nothing like this at anything like that price.

(waits modestly for applause)

yep-they will pinch a whole mailbox next. I sympathise with OP, but the PO box seems to be your only solution. Traps are illegal, stink bombs will make your mail stink, cameras will give you pretty images, but not necessarily end up in arrests. If you have a valuable parcel coming in, maybe using your friend's address for you would do the trick?

evoalg - 2021-06-07 12:33:00
36
sparkychap wrote:

that’s fine, especially as a mantrap can be female anyway:

“mantrap - a woman who is purported to be dangerously seductive or who schemes in her amours; femme fatale.“

Bit like seaqueen, I guess.

just say "person trap" to avoid the wokes LOL having said that, most thefts and other crimes ARE committed by men(blame that chromosome!) all while they have higher salaries, greedy bastards

evoalg - 2021-06-07 12:36:00
37
kittylittle wrote:

get rid of it and buy a po box instead

Most couriers won't deliver to a PO Box - and you don't buy them - you pay about $180/year for them - not cheap

lissie - 2021-06-07 13:27:00
38
shanreagh wrote:

here it tucks the parcels out of sight
https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/home-living/outdoor-
garden-conservatory/letterboxes/letterboxes/listing/31210222
04

Tha'ts a very cool idea - we don't have a theft problem - but the letter box won't last much longer and this is a clever design for parcels - keeps them dry too

lissie - 2021-06-07 13:28:00
39
evoalg wrote:

just say "person trap" to avoid the wokes LOL having said that, most thefts and other crimes ARE committed by men(blame that chromosome!) all while they have higher salaries, greedy bastards

No need, I'm quite comfortable with quoting the legislation when referring to "man", "he" and "landlords".

And most men do get higher salaries than equivalent females, but its generally the majority of the unemployed that commit these petty crimes.

sparkychap - 2021-06-07 13:47:00
40
sparkychap wrote:

No need, I'm quite comfortable with quoting the legislation when referring to "man", "he" and "landlords".

And most men do get higher salaries than equivalent females, but its generally the majority of the unemployed that commit these petty crimes.

I bet the value of stolen goods are also higher for male criminals than their female counterparts, cos males are just better

evoalg - 2021-06-07 17:27:00
41
trade4us2 wrote:

So, hide the camera at chest height, facing slightly upwards.
Have cameras pointing both ways along the street so you can get their rego numbers.

Do pushbikes have rego?

smallwoods - 2021-06-07 18:44:00
42

The member deleted this message.

kittycatkin - 2021-06-07 19:26:00
43

This message was deleted.

kittycatkin - 2021-06-07 19:30:00
44

Get a recording of a barking dog and stick it near your box with a sensor so the barking recording will be activated if people come near your letterbox

megan109 - 2021-06-07 19:39:00
45

Get an ultra-secret shrink ray and reduce a squad of rapid vampires to about 6 inches high. Pop them in the box and Wallah!

sparkychap - 2021-06-07 19:46:00
46
sparkychap wrote:

Get an ultra-secret shrink ray and reduce a squad of rapid vampires to about 6 inches high. Pop them in the box and Wallah!


So they will be tiny and extra quick? Death by a thousand pricks?

apollo11 - 2021-06-07 19:55:00
47
apollo11 wrote:


Death by a thousand pricks?

No, I said zombies, not Republicans.

sparkychap - 2021-06-07 19:58:00
48
sparkychap wrote:

Get an ultra-secret shrink ray and reduce a squad of rapid vampires to about 6 inches high. Pop them in the box and Wallah!

If you got French speaking ones they may even say 'Voila'

shanreagh - 2021-06-07 20:01:00
49
shanreagh wrote:

If you got French speaking ones they may even say 'Voila'

if they did, they’d be guttered.

sparkychap - 2021-06-07 20:11:00
50

We had stuff going missing from our letter box. We have had exterior cameras forever. So we printed out a picture of the thief and stuck several along our front fence. A lovely big but slightly anxious bloke knocked on the door and told me he knew the guy in the pictures. He didn’t know his name but knew which room the guy lived in at the boarding house up the road. The darling went to see the boarding house manager and said “if you’ve got theft going on, it could be this bloke”. Next thing was a whole lot of guys coming and looking at the pictures and laughing uproariously

princess52 - 2021-06-08 20:33:00
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