How Can I Open My Locked Mailbox?

Have you locked your mailbox key in your mailbox? Or is your mailbox lock broken? If either of these scenarios applies to you, you’ll want to know how you can get into your mailbox quickly. Luckily, there are many easy solutions that you can explore, from lock picking to calling a locksmith Manhattan for help. Here are several methods that you can try! 

Contact Someone With a Spare Key

If you live in an apartment building, your property manager or landlord may have a spare key to your mailbox—unless you changed your mailbox locks without letting them know. If they do not, they can likely offer you a solution for opening your mailbox without a key. 

Is your mailbox owned or controlled by a postal service like USPS? If so, you can try contacting the local office and ask them to send you the correct form for getting a new key. You can also try finding the form on the USPS website.

If no one can provide you with a spare key, there are other techniques that you can try such as DIY methods or calling a residential locksmith Manhattan. However, if you decide to take a shot at one of the DIY methods below, you should get the manager or owner’s permission first as improper attempts can damage the mailbox and surrounding mailboxes. 

Prying

Prying is the quickest way to open a locked mailbox door and takes little skill. It only requires two tools; a claw hammer and a flathead screwdriver. Be sure to get approval from the mailbox owner before attempting this method. If your mailbox is made out of metal, this method should not be used as it will bend or distort the metal, making it unusable. 

This technique will shear off the tailpiece of your lock, leaving nothing to hold the mailbox door shut so you’ll need to fully replace your mailbox lock. If you’ve bent your mailbox door to the point where it won’t close, repair your mailbox door before replacing the lock. 

Picking

You can learn to pick a mailbox lock with very little skill or effort. Most mailboxes use a pin tumbler system. To pick these locks, you’ll need to elevate the pins to the same height that the key grooves would raise them to while tensioning the lock to keep the pins in place. You can purchase lock picking tools or use a paperclip bent into a lock pick. Either way, you will need a tension wrench and a lock pick. You can rake the lock by inserting the tension wrench at the top or bottom of the keyway and rotating it in the direction that the key would turn, then inserting the lock pick and moving it back and forth in the lock. If you’ve tried raking and haven’t had any luck, you can try single pin picking or call a locksmith Manhattan.

Drilling

Drilling is the second easiest DIY method (after prying) and is an effective solution for a mailbox with a broken lock. You’ll need a screwdriver and a drill—preferably with a new drill bit—for this method. The drill bit should be slightly larger than the keyway. Once the keyway dust cover is removed, the drill bit will fit better. Before drilling your lock, make sure that you have a replacement lock on hand. One thing to be aware of is that the drill bit can break off in the lock. This can occur if the drill bit is too weak (which is why we recommend using a new drill bit), is being forced too strongly, or did not bite properly. 

Call a Locksmith

The great thing about hiring a locksmith is that you don’t need to worry about learning how to pick a mailbox lock or try any other DIY methods at all. When you’re looking for a quick service that gets immediate results, hiring a locksmith is the best option. Since most mailbox locks cannot be rekeyed, a locksmith will most likely drill and then replace your lock. Lock picking is usually not used, unless you’ve locked your key in the mailbox. 

Looking for a locksmith Manhattan to replace your mailbox locks? Locksmith For NYC offers fast and efficient lock replacement services for mailboxes in Manhattan, NY. We have experienced and skilled locksmiths who offer appropriate solutions for every mailbox issue! For example, if you’ve lost your mailbox key, we can create a new one for you on the spot. Or if your mailbox lock is damaged we’ll drill it out and replace the lock. Give us a call today!