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.

Generally only found in rural areas where they are by the side of the thoroughfare, those who favor a sturdy mailbox have found taking hints from rural customers is actually a great idea.

Although the usual commercial plastic and even the occasional aluminum is much more commonly seen in the everyday city landscape, when only a sturdy mailbox will do, rural consumers have a leg up on the rest of the population.

The kind of mail boxyou will find at an apartment building – be it a large 400 unit complex or simply a smaller bungalow property – is usually a generic commercial receptacle. It has no frills and although more often than not it actually locks, these locks cannot be considered security locks by a long shot. Anyone with a crudely made passkey or even a hairpin stands a good chance of getting into your mail. Renters beware!

Decorative mailboxes come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Most are sanctioned by the United States Post Office and while there are a few of those that are a bit iffy, most mail carriers are willing to work around the personal taste of the box’s owner. A new twist that is hitting the market for decorative mailboxes are those which light up – and they are quickly becoming all the rage!

When it comes to offering commercial mailbox ptions for apartments and townhomes, landlords and management companies are looking for save, cheap, and secure options. The need for individual keys is a given, but since it is sometimes hard to retrieve a key from a moving renter, some apartment managers of smaller venues have opted for individual mailboxes instead.

When it comes to finding sturdy materials for mail receptacles, one needs to look no further than copper, aluminum and bronze. Mailboxes made from such materials are plentiful and if you pay just a little attention you will notice that they appear to be almost everywhere! Aluminum is usually the most commonly found substance with respect to mail box making, but the other two metals are gaining in popularity as homeownership is soaring.

It is a sad testament to the times that homeowners must now fear not only thieves and home invasion robbers but also those who would steal their mail and subsequently also their identities for personal gain. In response, Rubbermaid plastic weather and vandalism resistant mailboxes are seeking to provide concerned mail recipients with mail receptacles that are safe, functional, sturdy, and nonetheless aesthetically pleasing.

It is a sad sign of the times that rugged, sturdy vandalism proof mailboxes are becoming the norm even in suburbia. Where yesterday a somewhat flimsy aluminum mail receptacle sufficed, a security mailbox is no more often than not the way to go. In the past the worst thing that could happen might have been the occasional rock thrown at a mailbox.

If you live in the rural section of your state, the need for protecting your mailbox from drive-by vehicle damage is very real and many a homeowner is known to replace their mail receptacles frequently! Fortunately, there are quite a few steps you can take to avoid this costly proposition.

There is a new market for solar lighted mailboxes and posts. Although the average sunny southern Californian might not see the need for such gadgetry, those living in colder winter climates are only too aware of the early hours that sunlight departs. As a matter of fact, many times it gets dark so early that the mail may not have even been delivered yet, but because of street lighting centralization, the official street lights might not yet have come on.