Fight Mailbox Vandalism

There are constantly news stories out there about mailboxes being vandalized. But what can you do to prevent this? Vandalism often happens while people work, or during the night when everyone is asleep. There’s not much you can do, right?

Wrong.

While it is true that you have little control over vandalism, there are steps you can take to help prevent it. These steps don’t guarantee your mailbox will be safe, but it might deter vandals or prevent further attacks.

1.  Consider in a heavy-duty mailbox. These can be made with steel, mounted on tougher poles, and more. It will make your mailboxes more difficult to destroy and vandals will likely seek easier targets. Be careful though that the mailbox is strong without being a liability. Do your research before installing something and be sure it is USPS approved.

2. If possible, keep your mailbox mounted closer to your front door or porch. Vandals are more likely to go for curbside mailboxes rather than approaching a front door.

3. Invest in a motion sensor light. These are often installed near porches or garage doors. If a vandal approaches your mailbox and the area is suddenly lit, they may reconsider. If you don’t want to have that bright of a light on the road, consider something such as solar lights to stop the mailbox from being concealed in darkness all night.

4. Report any vandalism. This can lead to the USPS or police looking into the incident, which may prevent further problems.

5. Obtain Label 33 and attach it to your mailbox. You can get this from the Postal Inspection Service, and it warns that intentional damage to a mailbox or theft is a crime.

Of course, there’s only so much you can do to prevent vandalism, but these tips are a good start. See if any of them work for you!

Protect Your Mail While on Vacation

As July begins, more and more people are heading out of town for vacation. Whether this is for long weekend to visit a friend several hours away or a month long trip to another country, you need to consider your mail before you head out.

Your mailbox has all sorts of valuables inside it. While you’re gone, bank statements might be delivered. Maybe packages. There are tons of different bills that could arrive, or items such as credit card solicitations. Some of these things could just be stolen for their value, such as birthday cards that could contain checks or items shipping to you. Other things could be used to steal your identity. That is why you must have a plan in place for your mail while you are away.

So, how do you protect your mail? Take a look at our tips below.

-          - Ask a close family member or friend to pick up your mail while you are gone. This should be someone you really trust. The sad truth is, there is a great deal of identity theft out there and you can never be too safe. Ask someone who is trustworthy, and who can check your mail for you daily. 

-          - If you have mail to send out right before you leave, drop it off in a public mailbox or at the post office. Leaving your flag up will indicate you have mail going out not only to a postal worker, but to thieves. 

-          - If you don’t feel comfortable letting someone collect your mail, or you simply don’t know who to ask, you can ask the USPS to hold your mail. This is of course, the safest option, as no one will have any access to your mail while you are away. You can find the full details about this service HERE.

-          - Don’t forget about your newspaper! They’re often left on doorsteps instead of in mailboxes and are visible for all to see. Get those collected or temporarily stop the newspaper service while you are away.

Of course, there is still always a chance of something going wrong. However, that chance goes down significantly when you follow these steps. Keep your home and mailbox safe while you’re on vacation so you don’t have to worry.

Maintenance for Your Mailbox

June is here, and with it comes warmer temperatures. And with those warmer temperatures, more and more people are spending time outside. Those of you have yards are probably doing a lot of yard maintenance. Maybe you’re working on patios. Or making fire pits. There’s probably a fair amount of you gardening, whether it’s flowers, vegetables, or both. A huge amount of work goes into maintaining the outside of a home. Make sure you add your mailbox to that To-Do List.

Mailboxes are probably not something that most people think about in the warmer months. There’s plants to look after, and grass to care for, and patios to design. But your mailbox actually has a huge impact on the look of your house.

A mailbox with chipping paint or rust can make people observe your home negatively. Not only that, but a mailbox that is in need of repairs is a hassle to our mail carriers. Mailboxes have to deal with a lot. Rain, hail, snow, and ice are only a few of many things that can cause wear and tear for a mailbox. Like any item that lives outside, a mailbox needs to be looked after, especially if you live in an area that sees rough winters. Snow can be particularly hard on mailboxes.

Here are some tips for maintaining your mailbox:

1.       Repaint a mailbox that has slight rusting or peeling paint.

2.       Replace loose hinges on mailbox doors.

3.       Replace or add house numbers if they’ve fallen off or if they’ve become faded.

4.       Remount mailboxes to walls or posts if they’ve become loose.

5.       Clean your mailbox with disinfectant and water if mildew begins to occur.

6.       Trim grass that may be around a mailbox post for aesthetics and to keep bugs from settling around mailboxes.

These simple tips will keep your mailbox looking nice, and will make it easier for letter carriers to deliver your mail.

Stamp Out Hunger with USPS

Image credit: USPS website

Tomorrow is May 10^th, the second Saturday in May for the year 2014. And that means it is time for the annual NALC Stamp Out Hunger National Food Drive. Tomorrow in over 10,000 cities across the USA, letter carriers will pick up food donations from postal customers.

Letter carriers will take non-perishable food donations to local food banks or shelters. It’s a great cause with amazing results. In the past 20 years over one billion pounds of food has been delivered.

Want to participate and make a difference? All you have to do is place your non-perishable food donation by your mailbox on the second Saturday of May. Make sure you do this before the mail is delivered! If you miss your window, you have all day to drop the donation off at your local post office.

It’s simple and could really help a hungry family out. Consider leaving a can of soup besides your mailbox this Saturday. It will go to a good cause.

To learn more, visit the USPS website: http://about.usps.com/corporate-social-responsibility/nalc-food-drive.htm

Spring Break Vacation?

Are you headed on a vacation?Even though it may not feel like it, spring and spring break is almost here! Are you planning on taking a week vacation? Make sure to stop your mail and prepare your house for while you are gone.



http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-tips/safety-and-health/keep-your-home-safe-on-vacation-9-essential-tips

Just Days Away!!

The 2014 Winter Olympics are just days away! Security and safety is a huge topic and concern. Sochi is using cutting edge technology, are they ready for the winter games? See the crowd control tactics! Be sure to keep up to date with the 2014 Olympics!

http://news.idg.no/cw/art.cfm?id=584CB22F-ECEB-1693-9A49D1C9408C2E80

Safety First!

The snow and cold weather may not be your favorite, but your letter carriers needs the sidewalk cleared. Remember to keep sidewalks cleared for kids, letter carriers, and neighbors! Your mail carrier will appreciate the clean walk ways! With kids walking to and from school, sidewalks need to be cleared. Not only will kids and letter carriers appreciate it, but when you have to walk to get your mail you will be glad you had a cleared drive way and walk way!



http://www.whbf.com/story/24604995/covered-sidewalks-cause-issues-for-mail-carriers