While replacing our old mailbox, I dug around the base and hit something solid—a rusted chain buried about eight inches deep. For a moment,

I imagined buried treasure, but soon realized it was part of a metal anchor set in concrete, designed to reinforce the mailbox post.

This was an old rural trick to combat mailbox vandalism, where reckless drivers would deliberately knock over mailboxes.

Instead of relying on authorities, rural homeowners took matters into their own hands—reinforcing posts with concrete,

steel pipes, or even welded spikes. One hit, and vandals were met with bent bumpers and regret.

The chain I found was still tightly cemented, solid after all these years. I left it in place, appreciating the smart,

tough solution. Today, we use cameras and motion sensors, but in remote areas with spotty signals, old-school reinforcements still work best.

No, I’m not recommending traps—that’s illegal—but reinforcing a mailbox is a smart and lawful defense. That buried chain wasn’t just hardware—it

was a symbol of rural resilience: solving problems with grit, creativity, and a bit of spite. It’s rural justice at its finest, still standing strong.