While replacing our old, worn-out mailbox, I started digging around the base of the post and hit something solid just a few inches down—a rusted chain buried about eight inches deep.
At first, I thought I had stumbled on buried treasure, but then reality kicked in. I kept digging and discovered the chain was connected to a metal anchor encased in cement, used to secure the mailbox post underground.
It turns out this was a clever solution to a common rural problem: mailbox vandalism.
In some areas, bored or reckless drivers made a sport out of knocking over mailboxes, so instead of waiting for help or filing complaints, rural homeowners decided to fight back using old-school methods. They reinforced posts with concrete, used steel pipes instead of wood, and sometimes even added welded rebar spikes to discourage destruction.
One hit, and the vandals learned the hard way—bent bumpers, broken parts, and a bruised ego. When I found that buried anchor, I couldn’t help but admire the ingenuity. Whoever installed it meant business. I tugged at the chain, but it wouldn’t budge—cemented in place and still solid after all these years. I decided to leave it right where it was. Today, we have cameras and motion detectors, but in remote areas with weak signals and long driveways, heavy-duty reinforcements still do the job better. I’m not suggesting you build a trap—that’s illegal—but reinforcing your mailbox post is a smart, affordable, and legal way to protect it. That rusted chain reminded me how rural folks used to solve problems—with grit, creativity, and just enough spite to make it work. It’s not just a chain; it’s a piece of rural justice still doing its job.