Many mailboxes are placed on top of a post. This is done to of course meet the height requirements of the United State Post Office and also to find an aesthetically pleasing way of incorporating the mail receptacle in the overall landscaping that is making up the front yard.

While identity theft is making all the headlines, vandalism is another occurrence homeowners must factor in when considering the purchase of a mailbox. Vandalism comes in many different forms. But, by far the most common outcropping is mail theft.

This is closely followed by mail destruction – usually in the form of fires set inside the mailbox – and mail defacing accomplished by placing something undesirable inside the mailbox with the mail and leaving you with unsavory cleanup duty.

Mailboxes can be more to us than simply a metal box that holds our mail for us. It can be an outdoor decoration, a security measure or a work of art. If you are looking for a mailbox, a post, flag or more you can find an amazing selection online.

You work hard to pay your bills on time and to keep your credit cards paid down. One day you are shopping downtown with your sister and you accidentally leave your purse in a taxi. You contact the taxi company but your purse is gone. You had three credit cards a debit card and your drivers license inside.

As a homeowner you know that your home reflects your personality and many an artsy type will not be long in also incorporating the mailbox in the general homestead improvement.

But did you know that there are 10 distinctive decorative mailboxes mistakes to avoid?

1.Is your decorative mailbox big enough? The post office has regulated the minimum size for a proper mail receptacle and if it is too small, your mail carrier may refuse to serve you.

It is stomach wrenching to know that in the year 2007 alone there were 8.4 million victims of identity theft. Within the United States it is estimated that each year there is a heart stopping 9 million people to have their identity stolen.

Identity theft is no myth as nearly nine million people in the United States have their identity stolen each year. It costs fifty thousand dollars per year within the U.S. to resolve identity theft. It also takes forty hours to resolve the average case of identity theft and even longer to correct fraud activity on a credit report.

The dangers of identity theft are real and the risk is great. You may become a victim simply by a person driving up to your mailbox and taking your mail. They then take your name and build a false life around it. They can apply for credit cards, loans and begin to make purchases all under your name.

As you drive down the country road, you notice the occasional mailbox that seems to be interspersed with lush vegetation or old trees. Usually found at the beginning of a driveway, you notice that while many of these kinds of boxes feature whimsical designs, hand painted names, and in some cases are artistically incorporated into the landscape, they all have one thing in common: they lock. While this may a somewhat novel concept to many a city dweller, it is a stark requirement in rural areas.

No matter whether you are a resident of a home or an owner of a business, mailboxes are important things to have. They ensure that your mail will get to you in a dry, well-kept condition and stay all in one spot.