apartment mailbox key holes are sideways....Why?

[Kodack]

I've noticed that the rows of mailboxes in my apartments all have sideways key entry as opposed to vertical. Is this to make them harder to pick?

Note I have Zero intention of trying to pick one, I'm just curious.

[thertel]

From looking at the few i have its because of the type of cam lock them are.

Thomas

[sevenply]

Do your mailbox locks have seperate locks for the mailman or does his masterkey go into each lock?

In my apartment building our locks are setup vertical with the pins at the top. On each row of mailboxes has a lock in the center that the mailman uses to pull the boxes forward. His lock is mounted horizontal. Outside the building is box with a key to give him access to the building, that box has a lock and it is also mounted horizontal. I believe that box outside uses the same key as the mailbox locks they use.

[Kodack]

Do your mailbox locks have seperate locks for the mailman or does his masterkey go into each lock?

In my apartment building our locks are setup vertical with the pins at the top. On each row of mailboxes has a lock in the center that the mailman uses to pull the boxes forward. His lock is mounted horizontal. Outside the building is box with a key to give him access to the building, that box has a lock and it is also mounted horizontal. I believe that box outside uses the same key as the mailbox locks they use.

They have like 16 boxes that are in a group, each group has a larger swing away door with all of the faces on it. When they deliver the mail they unlock the 6x6 door with all of the individual mailboxes on it, swing it away and then just drop the mail into each cubby. So my mailbox door has 1 keyhole.

If the postal service lock failed then every mailbox in that group could be accessed. IE single point of failure. Thankfully the main lock is pretty sturdy looking.

Of course, locks aren't everything. We have had the outgoing mailbox pryed open with a crowbar or something on several occasions, enough that I send important letters from work or the post office.

[randmguy]

Most likely the manufacturer of the mailbox doors punched the lock mounting holes with the flats on the top and bottom (as a desk or filing cabinet) without realizing that the tailpiece was going to engage on the side instead of above the lock.

[frollard]

my mailbox is uuber old - warded flat-steel key, surely openable with anything, but then nobody around here would lock their mailbox if it they could actually close/open the door completely without the key. nothing around here is locked.