How To Get Mailbox Key From Post Office

You accept a trouble and a burning question. "I lost my mailbox key. How can I open up it?" The good news is there are many options. If you have a mailbox that is part of a cluster of mailboxes, in the example of an apartment or mail service location, you may be able to get new keys fast. But if that isn't an option, you either need a locksmith or desire to proceed reading.

DISCLAIMER

The information contained in this article is only intended for individuals who are trying to regain access to their own property. Do non endeavour to open any mailbox lock you do non own or have non been given express permission from the owner to open. Mail theft is a federal crime and can result in substantial fines as well every bit prison house time. Do non interruption the constabulary.

The top method of how to open up a mailbox include:

Prying
Picking
Drilling
Locksmith

FAQs

How secure are mailbox locks?

Mailbox locks range from low security to the illusion of security. Due to the insecurity of the mailbox itself, it is rarely worthwhile to have a high-security lock. Most mailbox locks tin can be opened past beginner lock pickers or forced open with bones destructive entry tactics. In most cases, the mailbox can be opened through prying attacks that ignore the lock altogether.

Practice you need lock picks to open a locked mailbox?

There are several methods for how to open a mailbox that does non involve lock picking. However, if you are looking to open up your mailbox without damaging the lock or the box, you are looking for how to pick a mailbox lock. If you practice not have access to essential lock picking tools, be enlightened that improvised tools have a lower success rate, especially for novice lock pickers.

Can you lot pick a mailbox lock if the lock is broken?

A broken lock, by definition, does not operate properly with the correct key. Traditional lock picking simulates a key and cannot practise anything a key wouldn't do. When you are working with a broken mailbox lock, it needs to be replaced, and then simplify your solution and either drill or pry the lock open. You can consult with a locksmith, so your mailbox is not harmed in the process.

Where can I get a new mailbox key?

If y'all have lost your mailbox key and demand a new one, you may exist able to get a duplicate from your property manager. If the mailbox is endemic by the Usa Postal Service, contact your local post office for more information. In the case of personal mailboxes where no third party has a spare cardinal, replacing the lock is frequently the simplest solution.

Are mailbox locks rekeyable?

Many mailbox locks cannot be rekeyed. In the result that you take lost your mailbox primal, the standard process will exist to replace your mailbox lock. To rekey locks, the device needs a straightforward disassembly and reassembly process. Nearly mailbox lock cores are secured past a retention pin, which cannot be removed without tearing off the chamber embrace.

What does a locksmith charge to open a mailbox?

Lockout services start at $35. Unless your mailbox key is locked in the mailbox, you are going to need to supervene upon the lock. Lock changes are an additional toll starting at $35. A mobile locksmith who is coming to your location is virtually ever going to charge a standard service fee for arrival and assessment ($15), but yous are looking at an average cost of around $85.

How To Open An Flat Mailbox Without Key

If you are living in a rented space, the easiest mailbox lock hack is going to exist to contact your belongings manager for a spare key. Unless you changed locks without letting the apartment manager know, they should accept a spare key on file for your mailbox. And if they practice non, they will likely prescribe a method to open your apartment mailbox without a key.

In cases where the mailbox is owned or controlled by the postal service, you can contact your local office. Many articles on the topic of how to open an apartment mailbox without a key volition tell you that you can go a primal for a post function owned mailbox by filling out Us Post course 1094. Y'all tin wait at the full list of USPS forms or look for a working link online, simply that form does non seem to be offered anymore.

If you think you can skip the step of talking to the mailbox owner and but effigy out how to pick a mailbox lock on your own, I would circumspection confronting it. You have the resources of someone who knows how to open a mailbox because they have seen this problem before. Fifty-fifty if they do not take responsibility for opening the locked mailbox, they can potentially offer insight and fifty-fifty recommend a residential locksmith or commercial locksmith.

Key Takeaways:

Holding managers should have a spare mailbox primal y'all tin copy.
If the mailbox is owned by the USPS, contact your local postal office for instructions.
If no spare keys are bachelor, these resources can still suggest how to open your mailbox.

1. Prying

The quickest way to open up a mailbox when you lost your primal is to pry the door open. This tin be done chop-chop and with very trivial skill and requires simply a claw hammer and flathead screwdriver (or similar tools). Information technology is important to receive blessing from the owner or managing director of the mailbox before trying this method, as improper attempts can damage the mailbox door or surrounding mailboxes.

This method should non be used on a mailbox that uses thin metallic doors. Thin metal is likely to curve or distort, leaving the mailbox itself unusable. To avoid scuffing or scratching the surrounding metal, place textile towels or rags between your tools and the mailbox while prying. Y'all tin can see how the procedure looks here.

Be extremely careful as y'all practice the following:

Insert your screwdriver into the crevice opposite the hinged side.
Pry until yous encounter resistance.
Work the claw side of your hammer into the opening.
Remove the screwdriver.
Apply quick leveraged strength with your hammer.
If the lock does not open, use tools that provide better leverage.

This mailbox lock hack is going to sheer off the tailpiece of your lock, so in that location is nada to hold the mailbox door airtight. The lock can then be removed and replaced. You will as well need to change out the tailpiece, so be sure you are prepared to fully supersede your mailbox lock. If you accept aptitude the mailbox door or damaged the door to where it won't close, prepare the mailbox before installing the lock.

2. Picking

This is not an in-depth explanation of how to option a lock just rather a practical guide of how to pick a mailbox lock with no prior experience. Most mailbox locks are going to use a pivot tumbler system where several stacks of pins are elevated to a particular meridian by the groove depths on a key. Y'all are trying to heighten the pins to that acme while tensioning the lock then the pins stay prepare in identify.

With very little skill or practice y'all can larn how to pick a mailbox lock only the amend your tools, the faster the process volition work. You can purchase tools from established lock pick brands or utilise paper clips aptitude into lock picks. In whatever case, you lot will need two tools. A tension wrench and a rake. In one case y'all have your tools, you can become to work.

Place your tension wrench at the pinnacle or lesser of the keyway.
1. Whichever will keep information technology out of the manner of your lock pick.
Rotate your tension wrench in the direction the key turns to open the lock.
1. Many mailbox locks open with a LEFT turn.
With light tension applied, insert your lock pick.
Move the pick from the back of the lock to the front while lowering it and elevating it in the keyway.
If the lock does not open in 60 seconds, release tension and attempt again.

If you lot are non getting anywhere with this method of how to pick a mailbox lock, change your tension. You can besides look a bit deeper into the difference between raking and single pin picking to sympathize what you are trying to accomplish through this blazon of manipulation. And if you lot practise not want to take up lock picking as a hobby, you can reach out to a locksmith for help.

3. Drilling

If y'all need to know how to open a mailbox with a cleaved lock, y'all can refer to the section on prying, which is the fastest way to open up a mailbox. Besides prying, the next best mailbox lock hack is drilling. You need a screwdriver and power drill with a new drill scrap. The drill bit should exist slightly larger than the keyway. The drill bit will fit meliorate once the keyway dust cover is removed.

Before drilling your lock, yous should also accept your replacement mailbox lock. You lot tin also practice a bit of lock prep that will aid brand this get smoother. Lubricate the lock with any blazon of spray lube (WD-40 will piece of work fine in this case). And once your grit comprehend is off, you lot can utilise a punch to give your drill flake something to seize with teeth. Cheque out a video overview of this procedure here.

Use your screwdriver to pry off the keyway dust cover.
Place your drill bit at the meridian of the keyway.
Drill until you hear/experience five singled-out jolts, signaling all five pivot chambers accept been destroyed.
Utilise your screwdriver as a central to turn the lock.

The most common matter that can become wrong is the drill bit breaking off in the lock. This happens when the bit is also weak, being forced to strongly, if it did not bite properly, etc. The more drill bits you break, the more hard it is going to make the procedure. You tin clog the keyway or carve up the lock to the betoken where getting the side by side fleck to bite properly is virtually impossible.

4. Call A Locksmith

You practise non need to know how to choice a mailbox lock if you lot rent a locksmith. You practise not demand to familiarize yourself with whatever mailbox lock hack at all. When you lot detect the best lockout service near y'all, they should be able to handle opening a mailbox lock without a key. If you are thinking, "I lost my mailbox cardinal. How tin can I open up it with the least effort and best results?" Phone call a locksmith.

Because mailbox locks are not rekeyable, chances are a locksmith is going to drill and supersede the lock. The only reason to utilise non-destructive entry is when you do not desire to replace the lock. If you have no key and the lock cannot be rekeyed, then the lock needs to exist replaced. Even though a locksmith knows how to pick a mailbox lock, they may not carp.

Last Thoughts

When you lot are looking for how to open a mailbox lock without dissentious the lock, you will exist looking for how to selection a mailbox lock. Just unless you lot have a way of getting your lost mailbox key, information technology makes more sense to use a quicker and simpler method to open up your mailbox. If you are concerned well-nigh using subversive entry on your mailbox, consider calling a locksmith to assist.