Identity theft has become increasingly common in this world we live in, and it's only getting worst each day. One way to protect your identity is to have a locking mailbox. A thief can easily open your mail box and steal credit card information, social security numbers and or bank statements, locking your mailbox, will at least stop this type of identity theft.
Epoch 7106 MailBoss Curbside Locking Mailbox, Black
Stealing mail is a federal offense, but it doesn't stop it from happening. The Postal Inspection Service investigates over 27000 consumer fraud complaints, including identity theft each year. By upgrading your mailbox to a locking mailbox, you are fighting only half the battle, but it's a smart and inexpensive way to help fight mail fraud.
The locking mailbox doesn't have to be anything expensive, but it needs to be secured properly. If your mailbox ix not secured properly, it can be easily dismounted and the thief can just walk away with the entire mailbox. I know this from experience because I lived in an apartment when I was younger and the mailbox was just hung on the exterior wall loosely. I came home one day and the entire mailbox was gone.
Needless to say, I ended up buying a heavy duty locking steel mailbox, and bolting it to the wall, I never had another problem, and luckily, the mail that was delivered that day must have been junk mail because I had no signs of identity theft on my credit report. I was freaked out by the fact that someone had enough balls to do that in the middle of the day, or anytime of the day or night for that matter.
Architectural Mailboxes Peninsula Wall Mailbox, Antique Copper Embossed
If you're considering changing your mailbox to a locking mailbox be sure to mount if properly. If you're mounting it to a mailbox post and bracket, be sure to place the rounded end of the carriage bolt on the outside of the mailbox. If the round end of the carriage bolt is on the outside of the mailbox, it can't be unbolted without opening the mailbox, this adds security and peace of mind. If you are mounting the mailbox to a wall, be sure to bolt it from the inside of the mailbox and not from the outside edge.
