Mailbox Security Cameras: Best Solution to Prevent Mailbox & Car Vandalism

With security cameras for mailboxes, you are able to catch naughty kids or vandals tampering you’re your mails, knocking over your mailboxes and even scraping your cars in the act.

Sounds perfect, right?

But before you scroll down the product listings, consider these first:

Can you put a CCTV camera in a mailbox? How to choose the best mailbox security cameras? Will it be complicated to hide an IP camera in a mailbox on your own?

Dive in and learn how to select the perfect match and hide a small security camera in a mailbox within minutes.

Can I Put a Camera in My Mailbox: Be Careful to Avoid Legal Issues

Think about installing security cameras for mailboxes to catch the mail thieves and vandals in the act?

Wait!

That can be a breach of laws relating to postal services in some cases.

So, can you put a security camera in a mailbox?

Well, it depends:

No, If the Mailboxes Are the Property of Postal Service

According to the U.S. Code, mailboxes are protected by federal law and those who tamper with mailboxes can be fined up to $250,000 or imprisoned up to 3 years for each act of mailbox vandalism.

And putting security cameras in mailboxes may be considered as a violation of the mail law as well.

So, before installing CCTV cameras for mailboxes, it is best to give your local mail offices a ring and ask them whether it is legal for you to put one inside and outside the mailboxes.

If your request is declined, you can still monitor your mailbox by hiding low-profile security cameras inside a flowerpot or birdhouse or any positions nearby, just like what this Reolink user does – he conceals a Reolink Argus 3 Pro security camera under the eave. It hides so well that others even won't notice!

Yes, If the Mailboxes Belong to You

When it comes to your own mailboxes, of course, you are able to set up an outdoor security camera for a mailbox to get rid of package theft and car vandalism.

Make sure that you point the CCTV cameras to public areas like the driveway and sidewalk, but not at your neighbors’ properties.

Or else, you may intrude on others’ privacy and get involved in legal issues.

If you live in an apartment for rent and decide to set up a mailbox IP security camera on your own, it is best to be extra careful.

Why?

Chances are high that you may overhear the confidential conversations between renters and mail carriers or record their private phone calls accidentally via mailbox security cameras.

In California, Florida and Pennsylvania, the consent of all parties is required for audio recording. By using mailbox surveillance cameras to eavesdrop upon or record the confidential communication, you may face an up to $2,500 fine or an up to 1-year imprisonment.

To avoid running into legal issues, you’d better disable the audio recording when security cameras are applied on public mailboxes.

In addition, if you don’t want to bother yourself to set up IP cameras for mailboxes, communicate with your landlords and ask them to do so. And don’t forget to remind your landlords to put up surveillance signs as well.

Takeaway: Click here to learn how to prevent mail theft aside from putting security cameras on mailboxes.

Buying Security Cameras for Mailboxes: What to Look for & Best Picks

When it comes to buying security cameras for mailboxes, you may have a list of requirements including: the capability to capture clear images day and night, the durability of the harsh weather conditions and so on.

So, what are the must-have features of a mailbox IP security camera?

To help you select the perfect match, we have rounded up some of the essential factors to look for as follows:

Factor 1. Resolution & Night Vision

To catch the mailbox vandals and car burglars in the act, sharp image quality and excellent night vision top the must-have feature list for mailbox CCTV cameras.

Boasting super high resolution like 4MP, 5MP and even 4K, megapixel security cameras like Reolink RLC-810A even allow you to record the plate licenses and identify the face features of vandals.

So, when the car or mailbox vandalism is caught on such CCTV cameras for mailboxes, it takes less effort to recognize the mail thieves or vandals with the help of clear footage.

And it has been proved to work:

Check out the following in the product page before purchasing mailbox security cameras with night vision:

• Resolution (1080p or higher resolution)

• Field of view (shows the area covered by the CCTV camera for mailboxes)

• IR range (indicates how far the mailbox security camera can see at night)

• IR cut filter (ensures high-quality images and videos day and night)

Factor 2. Capability to Brave the Elements

In addition, the best mailbox security cameras shall stand guard keenly despite the harsh weather conditions.
Top security camera brands also apply advanced weather-resistant designs and features to ensure the performance of CCTV cameras in the outdoor environment.

So, when you shop for IP cameras for mailboxes, check out their working temperature, humidity and select one with high IP ratings (IP65 or even higher).

Factor 3. Size of Security Cameras on Mailboxes

To make mailbox security cameras less noticeable, it is important to choose small and low-profile ones.

Thanks to their tiny sizes, you are able to hide these small spy cameras in a mailbox, birdhouse or flowerpot effortlessly.

For example, a homeowner has put a Reolink Argus 3 Pro into a PVC pipe and used it to monitor the entrance to his front yard. And it hides so well!

Factor 4. Distance Between Mailbox Security Cameras and Your Home

Aside from the features of security cameras for mailboxes, take the distance between the desired installation spot and your house into consideration as well.

As the distance increases, it becomes way more difficult to run security camera wires outdoors for power supply, let alone handling voltage drop when you run the cables too long.

If you simply don’t want to bother running cables and bury them underground, battery-powered wireless security cameras like Reolink Argus 3 Pro would be better options.

Sporting flexible power options (rechargeable batteries and solar panels), this small security camera for mailbox allows you to set it up in a breeze without running cables and place it at any desired places.

Check out the video footage captured by this security camera for mailboxes.

Video Transcription

A strong mail carrier caught on a front door CCTV camera: he carried a 100 pounds all the way from his truck to the homeowner’s front porch, just like carrying a feather!

How to Set Up Hidden Mailbox Security Cameras: A Step-by-Step Guide

Will it be hard to hide security cameras in mailboxes?

No at all with this step-by-step guide!

Here we will take Reolink Argus 3 Pro as an example:

Step 1. Measure the size of your mailbox security camera and the diameter of its lens cover as well.

Step 2. Draw a circle or any other shape with a little bit larger diameter than that of the security camera on the mailbox. So, you can make sure that the mailbox CCTV camera’s view is not blocked.

Step 3. Cut the circle out with the drill.

Step 4. Fit the small spy camera in the mailbox.

Step 5. Add a wall plate if you want to conceal the hole.

Step 6. Access the security camera via Reolink app and check its field of view is blocked or not.

And, that is it! Easy enough even you have no DIY experience.

Takeaway: Check out this post and learn more possible ways to hide security cameras.

What Have I Missed?

Are you also planning to install security cameras for mailboxes to catch mail thieves or car vandals? What are the other factors that you are considering when shopping for a mailbox camera? Leave your ideas in the comment below and we would love to listen!