Even though we live in a good neighborhood with good neighbors and a very low crime rate, we have been having issues with people driving through the neighborhood and taking mail from open mail boxes as well as parcels/packages from doorsteps. I have had a locking mailbox for many years as I would get checks and documents sent to me when I ran my Residential Appraisal Business. Our neighborhood has the mail boxes grouped in 2 or 3 together on a typical post and cross bar which is required by the USPS so they do not have to make as many separate stops. A couple of weeks ago 2 guys were driving in our neighborhood taking mail from boxes and tried to rip off our 3 mail boxes from the post as 2 out of the 3 boxes are locked. They were not able to do it so they left in a hurry and were seen by our Postal Carrier who came up and let us know about it.

 

So since we do a lot more online purchasing and have packages delivered often that will not fit into my locking mail box, I am looking into either purchasing or making a parcel lock box to go by our front door. I have looked online and have found a number of ones for purchase which are metal but they can be rather pricey. I did some online research to try to find some "Home Made" parcel drop boxes but had very few results. So I am looking for some input and/or ideas from anyone who have built something like this or may have seen a custom made one in their travels. Below are a couple of photos of ones that I found online that are manufactured in metal to give you an idea of what I am talking about. Something that the carrier can open up a door near the top which drops the packages into a lockable holding area below. Being residential and living at the end of a cul-de-sac I am not looking to get/make something humongous or an eye-sore, but something large enough to handle the typical packages that we get on a regular basis.

Here is a link to give you a bit more info. They are located in England but I liked their basic design.
http://www.parcelpod.com/collections/all-products

 

It seems that all you might need is a box (size undetermined) with a spring loaded hinge for the lid, and a locking door at the bottom to retrieve the package. Of course, you'd want to attach the box to something so the thieves couldn't make off with the whole kit and kaboodle. 

The lid could be positioned inside the box with stops glued/screwed on the sides of the box to insure it couldn't be lifted up.

Would this have to conform to USPS regs? If it does, I'm not sure if a wood box would conform.

Gene,

 

I have not checked with USPS yet, but need to do so.

The box and locking section is pretty much straight forward. The issue is the design of the door for dropping the packages in while not allowing someone to put their hand/arm inside and pull them out. The door on the photo above of the box that says "UPS" on it is not on a spring set up but it is weighted. I know that wood is not as strong as steel, but I believe that we are not dealing with "Fort Knox" here storing bars of gold, but the various things we purchase online from Amazon.com and such. I really don't want to do metal due to ascetics. 

Allen,

I made these for my brother-in-law for his church. They were to hold collection envelopes/bags. 

 

 

I made a double baffle system so someone couldn't reach through the slot and pull out the contents (for a church- go figure). Anyway, may give you an idea.

 I recall some years ago ( law may have changed)  that people were prevented from going  with mailboxes of a unique or custom design by USPS regulations about what the USPS  will and won't deliver to.

 

Wouldn't be a bad idea to check with your postmaster.

This is not going to be at the curb where my existing locking mailbox is along with my other 2 neighbors. This will be on my porch by the front door where the various carriers deliver the packages that won't fit into the mailbox.

I think they can put a mailbox there and you can open it and deliver the packages yourself. call them.