would this be illegal?

[robphelan]

so, there has been several shenanigans going on in our neighborhood.... several mailboxes (brick/stone) have been knocked over... sometimes completely destroyed, sometimes just knocked over...

ours hasn't been hit yet. I'd like to fabricate some spikes to lay a semi-circle around the mailbox so if they drive up, the spikes would destroy their tires.. probably 2-3" or so tall.

the spikes would be out of the way of the USPS and on our property... but on the easement.

I do have big rocks lining up along the edge of the yard to discourage people from driving on our yard, but that won't deter them from jacking around with the mailbox.

 

[alfa147x]

Anti-personnel land mines

 

[robphelan]

Originally posted by: alfa147x
Anti-personnel land mines

but for those damned joggers, i would

 

[TehMac]

No, not in the US is it legal to make man traps of any kind, even for defense of your property. This law stems back from 18th century Europe, where laws concerning the use of man traps to catch poachers on noble estates were being legislated to forbid such practice.

 

[robphelan]

not really a "man trap"... more like a car trap

 

[brownstone]

Perhaps you could disguise the spikes with a little help from the garden gnomes...?
http://www.prankplace.com/gnomes_mooning.htm

 

[tasmanian]

Originally posted by: brownstone
Perhaps you could disguise the spikes with a little help from the garden gnomes...?
http://www.prankplace.com/gnomes_mooning.htm

Yep. Just get something to cover the spikes that breaks easily. Then you can say they were there to hold them in place. Or you can build a mini "fence" around your mailbox.

 

[Zenmervolt]

This happened to my grandfather. He built a mailbox out of 1/4 inch thick steel and a similarly sturdy support that was sunk 6 feet into the ground and then filled with concrete and rebar.

A week or two later he woke up and found half a baseball bat laying on the ground by the mailbox. There was no visible damage to the mailbox.

A few years later, a construction crew backed into the mailbox with their backhoe. Again, no visible damage to the mailbox.

ZV

 

[IEC]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
This happened to my grandfather. He built a mailbox out of 1/4 inch thick steel and a similarly sturdy support that was sunk 6 feet into the ground and then filled with concrete and rebar.

A week or two later he woke up and found half a baseball bat laying on the ground by the mailbox. There was no visible damage to the mailbox.

A few years later, a construction crew backed into the mailbox with their backhoe. Again, no visible damage to the mailbox.

ZV

That's the way to teach 'em. Build it stronger than the weapon, lol

 

[Fayd]

yeah...

anyone's welcome to run into my mailbox with their truck. so long as i'm not liable for damages to their truck

 

[George P Burdell]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
This happened to my grandfather. He built a mailbox out of 1/4 inch thick steel and a similarly sturdy support that was sunk 6 feet into the ground and then filled with concrete and rebar.

A week or two later he woke up and found half a baseball bat laying on the ground by the mailbox. There was no visible damage to the mailbox.

A few years later, a construction crew backed into the mailbox with their backhoe. Again, no visible damage to the mailbox.

ZV

Mad props to grandpa

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
This happened to my grandfather. He built a mailbox out of 1/4 inch thick steel and a similarly sturdy support that was sunk 6 feet into the ground and then filled with concrete and rebar.

A week or two later he woke up and found half a baseball bat laying on the ground by the mailbox. There was no visible damage to the mailbox.

A few years later, a construction crew backed into the mailbox with their backhoe. Again, no visible damage to the mailbox.

ZV

They don't build them like that anymore. Or ever, really.
Your grandpa ROCKS!

 

[roid450]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
This happened to my grandfather. He built a mailbox out of 1/4 inch thick steel and a similarly sturdy support that was sunk 6 feet into the ground and then filled with concrete and rebar.

A week or two later he woke up and found half a baseball bat laying on the ground by the mailbox. There was no visible damage to the mailbox.

A few years later, a construction crew backed into the mailbox with their backhoe. Again, no visible damage to the mailbox.

ZV

same thing we did at my neighbors place. never again has his box been damaged.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

A week or two later he woke up and found half a baseball bat laying on the ground by the mailbox. There was no visible damage to the mailbox.

It's too bad the baseball bat didn't have someone's arm still attached to it.

 

[Squisher]

I am unsure how you would build anything that would deter a baseball bat wielding thug yet allow USPS access to the mailbox, but if you could, I'd dig a hole big enough to bottom out a vehicle. "It wasn't a booby trap your honor, I was just getting ready to plant a tree."

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Squisher
I am unsure how you would build anything that would deter a baseball bat wielding thug yet allow USPS access to the mailbox, but if you could, I'd dig a hole big enough to bottom out a vehicle. "It wasn't a booby trap your honor, I was just getting ready to plant a tree."

Like Zen said just make the mailbox stronger.


What I have planned is to get 1 large mailbox and 1 regular size one. Put the smaller one in the large mail box and fill the gap between the small and large one with concrete.

Quick easy and can be done with just basic house tools. :evil:

 

[LeadMagnet]

Indestructible Mailboxes

 

[ShotgunSteven]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
This happened to my grandfather. He built a mailbox out of 1/4 inch thick steel and a similarly sturdy support that was sunk 6 feet into the ground and then filled with concrete and rebar.

A week or two later he woke up and found half a baseball bat laying on the ground by the mailbox. There was no visible damage to the mailbox.

A few years later, a construction crew backed into the mailbox with their backhoe. Again, no visible damage to the mailbox.

ZV

Your grandfather may have been my next-door neighbor. He did the same thing, except he was outside his house when he heard a vehicle out by the road where the mailboxes are. He heard a crash and a scream, then the sound of an engine revving as they took off. He went out there and found a piece of pipe laying on the ground and a rust mark from it on the side of the mailbox.

 

[Spacehead]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
What I have planned is to get 1 large mailbox and 1 regular size one. Put the smaller one in the large mail box and fill the gap between the small and large one with concrete.

Quick easy and can be done with just basic house tools. :evil:

Nice :thumbsup:


I was going to say, just fill the box with concrete & get a PO box. Not really practical & only works if the kids are using a bat/pipe & not throwing rocks at it.


I need to redo my mailbox but it needs to be more snowplow proof than anything else.

 

[BabaBooey]

What no poison darts......



Just rig the box with a bit of C4 and when it tips past a certain point it blows,might have a bit of stuff to clean up but it will send a message.




Your welcome....

 

[Scarpozzi]

I would hate to be your mail man.

 

[DrPizza]

Why not just set up a video camera to catch whoever's responsible. The P.O. usually isn't filled with sissies afraid to go after people who do this. It's a felony to destroy mailboxes.

 

[xanis]

booby trap that shit and teach those little punks what's what.

 

[Wheezer]

Punji sticks ftw!

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
This happened to my grandfather. He built a mailbox out of 1/4 inch thick steel and a similarly sturdy support that was sunk 6 feet into the ground and then filled with concrete and rebar.

A week or two later he woke up and found half a baseball bat laying on the ground by the mailbox. There was no visible damage to the mailbox.

A few years later, a construction crew backed into the mailbox with their backhoe. Again, no visible damage to the mailbox.

ZV

this is awesome.