How to Prevent Letterbox Burglary: Fishing, Handle Attacks & Fire

A letterbox is a hole in your front door, usually close to the handle. Here's how it gets used, and what actually stops it, from the free fixes to the products.

How letterbox burglary works

• Key fishing. A hook on a rod or a length of wire goes through the flap to lift keys off a hall table, a hook or the floor. Car keys are a common target. See what letterbox fishing is for more.
• Opening the door from inside. On most uPVC and composite doors, pushing the inside handle down opens the door unless it's been locked with the key. A tool through the letterbox can do that. On timber doors, it can reach the knob of a nightlatch.
• Looking in. Through the flap, someone can see what's in your hall, and a pile of post tells them nobody's home.
• Fire and fireworks. Lit material pushed through the letterbox is a real risk, especially around bonfire night.

Free fixes: start here

Keep keys away from the door

No hall table, no hooks by the door, no keys left in the inside of the lock. Out of reach and out of sight of the letterbox is enough. If you need a spare key outside, use a proper key safe, not a plant pot.

Always lock with the key

Pulling a uPVC door shut isn't the same as locking it. Until you lift the handle and turn the key, the door can be opened just by pushing the inside handle down, and that's exactly what a letterbox tool does. Lock it with the key every time, even when you're in.

Not sure if your door locks behind you? Our guide to single and split spindle locks has a 30-second test.

Block the letterbox from inside

These all fit on the inside of your door, over your existing letterbox, so there's no need to change it:

• Letterbox lock (sash jammers): two of our sash jammers, screwed either side of the inside flap, swing over it and hold it shut. Nothing can be pushed through while they're on, so use them at night or when you're away. The cheapest fix, at a few pounds.
• Lockable steel cover: the FlapGUARD is a steel barrier that's Sold Secure Bronze accredited. Post still comes through its 315 × 80mm opening, even when it's locked.
• Fire-retardant letterbox bag: a lockable cover with a large bag behind it that catches all your post. Nothing can reach past it into the hall, and the self-extinguishing fabric can contain small fires and fireworks. It also keeps post off the floor and out of sight. It's our best-selling letterbox security product, with over 100 sold in the last 12 months.

Which one? To lock the letterbox at night or when you're away, sash jammers do it for a few pounds. To stay protected while post still comes through, the FlapGUARD does the job. If fire, fireworks or anti-social behaviour is a concern too, go for the bag.

Stop fishing and fire in one

Our best-selling letterbox security: catches all post, self-extinguishing fabric, lockable. £99.99.

View the bag →

Replacing the letterbox?

If your letterbox is old or damaged anyway, choose one that's harder to tamper with. Our Slimline anti-vandal letterbox has blind bolts, so the outside frame can't be unscrewed from outside, and brushes that stop things being stuffed into the gap. For the highest level, look for a letter plate tested to TS 008, the standard for resisting attacks through the letterbox.

See our letterbox measuring guide before you order.

Other ways to protect your front door

• Move post somewhere else. An outside wall-mounted letter box means post never comes through the door, though you'll still want the door letterbox blocked.
• Check the cylinder. A burglar who can't get in through the letterbox may try the lock. If your euro cylinder isn't TS007 3-star rated, it may be easy to snap. Our guide on measuring your euro cylinder takes two minutes.
• See who's there first. A video doorbell or a door viewer means you don't need to open the door to strangers.

Letterbox sorted? Check the lock

Avocet ABS, TS007 3-star anti-snap, in every size from 30 × 30mm to 60 × 60mm. £44.99.

Choose your size →

Need help?

Send a photo of the inside of your letterbox to info@homesecureshop.co.uk, or call us on 0151 521 8089. We'll tell you what will fit.