USPS Keys

[macgng]

Whatcha think?

[mdc5150]

Looks like a P.O. Box key.

[macgng]

oh yeah? okay cool! i got it for $2.50 so it's still pretty cool even if thats all it is.

[ChemicalRobot]

Yeah I have a key that looks pretty much the exact same. It operates my PO box.

[thelockoutguys]

us post office key. Not worth the jail time to duplicate.

[ChemicalRobot]

us post office key. Not worth the jail time to duplicate.

Wait, how illegal is it?

[oldlock]

us post office key. Not worth the jail time to duplicate.

Wait, how illegal is it?

VERY. They seriously will prosecute if your caught doing it. The postal inspectors can being serious grief down on people if they have reason too .....

[Dopug]

So these keys are for the box you post your mail in, or the ones you get you mail delivered to?

[mdc5150]

So these keys are for the box you post your mail in, or the ones you get you mail delivered to?

At almost every post office in the U.S. there are boxes for rent to receive your mail. That is what those keys are for.

[keymaster1053]

Yeah, not illegal to own the keys, just if you copy one. As a locksmith, I once worked for a large lock shop years ago, and when we placed our key order, the factory mistakenly sent us a Box of 50 USPS blanks by mistake!!! They are simply the reverse of a Yale 999 key 6-pin. The boss quickly sent them back! LOL
Jim.

[jailersmith]

Only a locksmith that has a current USPS vendor contract can touch a USPS lock or duplicate keys. All others please proceed directly to (federal) jail, do not collect $200. Sorry, no get out of jail free card available.

[rai]

I once had a job that involved making key for a set of PO Boxes, over 200 of them, the guy bought them at a postal auction, with no keys,
the local jobber had no problem with selling me a couple boxes of the key blanks, 999r or reverse.

[escher7]

See the accompanying "Arrow" key discussion re legality of P.O. keys. The Arrow keys are for the main lock, these are for the boxes, but the same law applies.

[MrWizard]

The P.O. Box keys are property of the post office they are rented and if found are suggested to just be dropped in a mailbox to be returned. Selling or passing them along to someone else is really a bad idea. Even posting pictures of them proving you have one that doesn't belong to a box you are renting could be grounds for trouble. IP address could point right to it's location if a postal inspector was alerted to it being posted. The postal service has no sense of humor.