Someone keeps stealing our mailbox.

[lebowski]

Thread title explains it.. Someone keeps stealing our mailbox..

Lastnight.. Someone stole the whole mailbox, post and even the mail in it..

We talked to the police and they said if we find someone who did it they will do something.. But we don't want our stuff to keep being taken...

We will try talking to the police again, but they insist that "would you rather have us busting gangs and drugs etc, or working on a mailbox" Which is COMPLETE BULL because the word gang doesn't even exist in this small crap town.. So they basically won't do anything..

My old man is going to try and talk to them and reason.. Eitherway what would you suggest?

[masson]

Get a gun and camp it out.... ill help :)

*edit* Better yet ill bring mine over.

[dc]

Video camera? I thought it was a felony to steal mail. I'd be pretty ticked off myself.:mad:

[RicksReefs]

steel post & box, a puddle & 120 volts.... :D











the above post was in jest & shouldn't be done... ;)

[dc]

Originally posted by RicksReefs
steel post & box, a puddle & 120 volts.... :D











the above post was in jest & shouldn't be done... ;)

Darn, I was thinking it sounded pretty good. Of course the mailman might not!:lol:

[ProdigalPoster]

I've actually seen this. Fill the new mailbox with cement.

[benonmsn]

i was 100% thinking the same thing, electrify the box. put it on a timer so it doesnt kill the mail man.. im serious.. it would be easy and fun! get an old extension cord, cut end, run it to box, put white wire on metal box!! fun! i wish soem one would steal mine so i could do this!

[dc]

Originally posted by benonmsn
i was 100% thinking the same thing, electrify the box. put it on a timer so it doesnt kill the mail man.. im serious.. it would be easy and fun! get an old extension cord, cut end, run it to box, put white wire on metal box!! fun! i wish soem one would steal mine so i could do this!

Besides being illegal, killing an innocent person walking by might not be a good thing.

[masson]

Man if someone stole mine i would be out there with 10 ppl with paintball guns . Man that would be fun :)

[benonmsn]

not illegal and 100% wont kill anyone.. 120v at 15amps is nothin...u can electrify your own mail box all u want...

[RicksReefs]

Originally posted by dc
Besides being illegal, killing an innocent person walking by might not be a good thing.



that's why i put the disclaimer up... :D


Originally posted by SeanCallan
I've actually seen this. Fill the new mailbox with cement.

that for the drive by smashers...

[chipmunk]

Calling the police is okay, but you should call the Postal Service. Our government takes postage theft very seriously. They hand out extra heavy penalties for crimes against the USPS. Murdering a postal worker gets you a harsher sentence than murdering a regular civilian. I believe that even though it's your mailbox, if the mail is still in it, it's the property of the government. Setting up a camera sounds like a good idea.


I heard about a guy here who got 10 years for throwing an M-80 into a mailbox. Silly, stupid prank but after they were through throwing the book at him he was looking at a decade in prison. Something about use of a destructive device, destruction of government property, etc etc. Sometimes it doesn't pay to be a dimwit.



I just read this: Mailboxes are considered federal property, and federal law (Title 18, United States Code, Section 1705), makes it a crime to vandalize them (or to injure, deface or destroy any mail deposited in them). Violators can be fined up to $250,000, or imprisoned for up to three years, for each act of vandalism.

[RicksReefs]

Originally posted by benonmsn
not illegal and 100% wont kill anyone.. 120v at 15amps is nothin...u can electrify your own mail box all u want...

sooo not true. setting booby traps is premeditated... felony
& it's not the voltage, it's the 60 hertz that'll stop the heart.

[MarinaP]

Happened to me too. I reported the accident and told the officer that I would shoot the intruder next time. Mailbox bashing never happened again. But I live in Virginia :lol:

[Q-ball]

Originally posted by benonmsn
not illegal and 100% wont kill anyone.. 120v at 15amps is nothin...u can electrify your own mail box all u want...

Uhm, no. It IS illegal (it's called a boobytrap, even if it IS your mailbox) and if you honestly think it's impossible to kill someone with 120v 15amps, I might suggest doing a little more reading. It's more than enough, specially if someone has a less than perfect heart or nervous system. With the kind of litigious society that we have today, I honestly can't believe anyone would think this is legal and that you'd not get in trouble for it:rolleyes:

[ProdigalPoster]

MarinaP,

Where in NOVA are you? I'm up here right now!!

[ProdigalPoster]

Even waiting outside with a paintball gun is illegal, try shooting someone with one of those and you'll get yourself in jail real quick.

Assault with a Deadly Weapon, PreMeditated, Firing a Missle.

You'll get those 3 for a fact, I know because 2 kids at my school did that and those are the charges they got.

[MarinaP]

Originally posted by SeanCallan
Even waiting outside with a paintball gun is illegal, try shooting someone with one of those and you'll get yourself in jail real quick.



Not unless the intruder is on YOUR property, at least in VA.

[Totlxtc]

Hey if anyone needs a mailbox i have some for sale on Ebay! :lol:

[benonmsn]

"oh him officer? he was stealing my mail box for the 3rd time and got shocked when my new mail lights malfunctioned"

easy enough, no biggy

[RicksReefs]

you'd still be held responsible. so instead of murder 1,
you'd get murder 2 or manslaughter.

[carpetride]

Lowe's sells a mailbox called "20lbs of steel" and it is literally 20 lbs of steel. The little crack head that is stealing it will where out and move on to easier targets. I used two of them when I built a brick mailbox for me and the neighbor. Most likely teenagers with too much time on there hands. Be sure to put the post in some concrete. BTW these mailboxes are sledghammer proof!

[SpaceFish]

Well what is it happening for? Is it one d@mn fine mailbox? Or PPL just screwing w/ you?

Chances are if you do anything just to the box, they will move to something else just out of spite. The best idea was to put a camera on it and advertise "VIDEO SURVELANCE" or something and keep the area well lit.

~R

[Q-ball]

Originally posted by benonmsn
"oh him officer? he was stealing my mail box for the 3rd time and got shocked when my new mail lights malfunctioned"

easy enough, no biggy

I see you won't be long on this side of the prison walls. Say hi to Bubba for us.

[RicksReefs]

and when you get out, if you ask nice, i'm sure
Q won't mind changing your screen name to ben dover...:lol:

[Q-ball]

:lol:

[benonmsn]

rick!! stop following me!! ima get u!

[RicksReefs]

uh oh, threatening bodily harm is another 3 to 5... :D

[Q-ball]

Rick, I'll hide behind all those mailboxes we uhm, borrowed...and I'll take a pic as he takes a swing at ya, then we got assault on him too :D

[xxaquanutxx]

Originally posted by RicksReefs
and when you get out, if you ask nice, i'm sure
Q won't mind changing your screen name to ben dover...:lol:

As a welcome home gift we can all chip in for a couple tubes of "Ben Gay" for those sore cheek muscles:eek1:

[benonmsn]

why would i leave my wonderful southern california to go "visit" u bozo's!

i rather like it here!

[RicksReefs]

Originally posted by Q-ball
Rick, I'll hide behind all those mailboxes we uhm, borrowed...and I'll take a pic as he takes a swing at ya, then we got assault on him too :D

he hehe, he said assault..




Originally posted by benonmsn
why would i leave my wonderful southern california to go "visit" u bozo's!


who following who here? how'd you know about our clown suits? :D

[mike4271]

Lebowski, this so simple you never even thought of it.

Take small plastic box with lid, about 6"x6"
Fill box about half way with tank water
Place 1 blue ring octipussy in box
Close lid.

Follow me so far,,, ok next

Stick label on box, with.....

Dear Leb, had to rush out of town, I know I can trust you to feed my little pal. I was going to take him to the fish store, but they said they wouldnt babysit, but if I wanted they would give me $2,500.00 cash as he is so rare.
As I said, I know I can trust you, just dont forget, he must be hand fed every 6 hours, Regards and Thanks Richard Head

Whatcha think then LOL

[mike4271]

Ok I forgot to say, Put box in mailbox, go wait at local hospital

[Tahoe Ocean]

You could do something very silly and make it look so unique that no-body but the mail man will touch it. That is what Bob says I did to ours. He wishes someone would steal it...
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-9/834377/mailbox1.jpg

[benonmsn]

LOL.. what a beast of "love" that thing is

[lebowski]

Haha.. Thanks for the serious and comedic advice..

I think I'm going to setup a camera and contact the postal service.

[dinoman]

How are they stealing it post and all? We have ours set 3ft in the ground (same as our fence posts) and let me tell you there isn't anybody that is going to pull that post out of the ground without mechanical help (we usually have to pull them with the tractor or dozer!). You could also set the post in concrete, unless they are real determined they're going to get pretty tired of packing around a post with 100+ pounds of concrete on it.

-Dino-

[Mini4x]

Originally posted by chipmunk
I just read this: Mailboxes are considered federal property, and federal law (Title 18, United States Code, Section 1705), makes it a crime to vandalize them (or to injure, deface or destroy any mail deposited in them). Violators can be fined up to $250,000, or imprisoned for up to three years, for each act of vandalism.

IS this law pertaining to the big blue drop boxes or even personal mailboxes??\

[RicksReefs]

both. if i open someones mailbox to put an invoice in there after
doing some work for them, i'm breakin' the law. i have to stick it
in their door... sometimes when i'm feeling like an outlaw though,
i'll still put it in their mailbox. :D

[mike4271]

Yeah Rick, then some Mail Carriers pick it up and take it back to the P.O. lol

[RicksReefs]

hmmm, maybe that's why some of these deadbeats haven't paid... should i call off vinnie & no neck?... :D

[mike4271]

You may as well, its not easy repossesing a pool in Florida

[dc]

Originally posted by RicksReefs
both. if i open someones mailbox to put an invoice in there after
doing some work for them, i'm breakin' the law. i have to stick it
in their door... sometimes when i'm feeling like an outlaw though,
i'll still put it in their mailbox. :D

:lol: Living on the wild side eh?

[RicksReefs]

Originally posted by mike4271
You may as well, its not easy repossesing a pool in Florida

no, but their jag would look good on me... :D


Originally posted by dc

Living on the wild side eh?

yup, i even ripped the tags of my mattress...:lol:

[Runner]

Originally posted by benonmsn
not illegal and 100% wont kill anyone.. 120v at 15amps is nothin...u can electrify your own mail box all u want... Actually, through either circumstance or evil design, 120 VAC and 60 Hz power is almost IDEAL for killing humans by sending your heart into fibrilation. Higher voltage causes damage which will "release you" from the grip of the electricity. Breaker size doesn't matter since enough current may not flow during electricution to trip the breaker. That's why you want GFCI breakers or receptacles for you tanks, kiddies.

If you wanted to do something like this, then modifying something like one of those intermittent dog collars would shock without hurting somebody. You could still kill a guy with a pace-maker, though. In that case, it would be a booby trap and at least 2nd degree murder. Thus, not recommended.
:)

I like the idea of sitting in wait with a paintball gun myself...
:lol:

[carpetride]

Originally posted by Runner

I like the idea of sitting in wait with a paintball gun myself...
:lol:


Maybe a nice bright red!

[chipmunk]

Originally posted by Mini4x
IS this law pertaining to the big blue drop boxes or even personal mailboxes??\ Both.

And my understanding is that the penalty "for each offense" can be applied to each single piece of mail. So if you destroy/steal 10 pieces of mail, they can get you on 10 individual counts.

[Muttling]

Originally posted by benonmsn
not illegal and 100% wont kill anyone.. 120v at 15amps is nothin...u can electrify your own mail box all u want...

Just to throw my 2 bits in here and set the record straight on the law about booby traps.....


The thing to understand is that the law NEVER allows booby traps of any form. Nailing someone with an electrical charge is a use of extreme bodily force (any prosecutor worth his salt would call it a use of deadly force.)

The law is very specific about when you are legally permitted to use such force. The laws vary from state to state, but they generally approve it only in a time when you have GOOD reason to be in fear for YOUR life. Protection of property is rarely legal justification for a citizen to use extreme force (much less deadly force.)

A few states do permit the use of extreme force in the protection of property and a couple even allow it in the stopping of a felony crime. However, states that do allow it specifically require that you be a witness to the actual crime before you can use force. In other words, you can't use lethal force by laying a booby trap in anticipation of a crime that hasn't happenen and you are not a witness to.

If you booby trap your mailbox, you'll be lucky to get off with a charge of aggrevated assault and a nasty law suit in civil court. If you're unlucky, you'll be looking at a murder conviction and a wrongful death lawsuit.

On the civil court aspect I touched upon above, you can be sued in civil court by anyone who get's shocked.....even if you're not charged with a crime.

[Muttling]

Originally posted by chipmunk
Both.

And my understanding is that the penalty "for each offense" can be applied to each single piece of mail. So if you destroy/steal 10 pieces of mail, they can get you on 10 individual counts.

Yep, that's my understanding also.



I say get a good 35 mm camera, a good video camera, a pair of binoculars, a pad to write down license plate numbers, some bright lights, and a big pot of cofee.

A can of pepper spray and a phone with 911 on speed dial is a good idea as well.....just in case they don't like your photographic habits and decide to threaten you with bodily harm.

P.S. - Check your local laws on the pepper spray as some states have restrictions and registration requirements on that as well.

[zenguitar]

yup, i even ripped the tags of my mattress
I just got a new mattress and the guy really said "don't cut that off." He explained something about warranties. I thought it was pretty funny cause I said, "oh, I thought I really would get arrested, hehe"