Onehunga Resident Uses Rat Trap to Deter Mailbox Thieves Amid Crime Surge

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In a private effort to combat rising petty crime in his Auckland neighborhood, a man strategically placed a rat trap inside his mailbox. The anonymous Onehunga gentleman acknowledged that instances of mail theft and vandalism had become more prevalent within his residential complex, pushing him to resort to unusual measures.

Despite the installation of locks by the residents’ delegated body corporate, optimistic thieves continued to breach the mailboxes. A subsequent advice to desist from lock-use to prevent further damage led this frustrated individual to execute his alternative stratagem.


During a phone call to the 111 police line on an unrelated issue, he seized the chance to inquire about the legality of his planned defence. He was allegedly advised by the law enforcement officer that placing a trap inside his mailbox was within the realms of legality.

Emphasising the broader criminal activities plaguing the area – from mail theft to car thefts and expanding vandalism, the resident criticized the local police force for their perceived nonchalance.

Fast forward a few days from the trap’s installation, and he got a bite – literally. Upon finding his trap absent, he soon discovered it triggered and discarded a short distance away. In his narration, he mentioned his actions were borne out of frustration, without any malicious intent, with the intention of shocking the thieves into ceasing their underhand activities.

Although he stated some neighbourhood support for his unorthodox approach, his mechanisms didn’t sit well with the body corporate’s regulations and they removed his device. The representative for the body corporate accepted the prevalence of mail thieves, a.k.a “toerags”, but didn’t pinpoint Onehunga as a unique crime hotspot. His advice to not lock mailboxes came from a place of prudence, realizing determined offenders always found a way through.

In response to the issue, residents are encouraged to promptly clear their mailboxes and other security precautions have since been implemented. The East Auckland area prevention manager for the police force, Inspector Rachel Dolheguy, declined to comment on the legality of the rat trap tactic. However, she did acknowledge an upsurge in mail theft across Auckland following the increased home deliveries linked with the Covid-19 lockdowns.

Inspector Dolheguy implored residents to promptly report suspicious activity, offering several tips to avoid postal theft. These include limiting the posting of money and vouchers through the mail, arranging for valuable mail deliveries to a secure location, and considering ‘click and collect’ options rather than home delivery.

New Zealand’s Post chose not to comment on this interesting defensive approach against petty criminals.