Opening And Changing Letterbox Lock | Vincent Locksmith Singapore

Table of Contents

• Can the HDB letterbox lock be changed?
• Can locksmiths change or repair letterboxes?
• Can I replace my mailbox lock myself?
• IC verification procedure
• Sunrise brand letterbox lock
• Target brand letterbox lock (Not available)
• REAL brand normal design letterbox lock
• REAL brand flushed design letterbox lock
• Brass letterbox cam lock
• Brass letterbox cam lock (black) (Limited stock available!)
• Which letterbox lock should I choose for my needs?
• How to identify a letterbox break-in
• When and why do I need to change my letterbox lock?
  • Moving into a new unit
  • Loss and misplacement of keys
  • Harassment issues
  • Superglued letterbox lock
  • Superglued keyless number lock
  • Broken key inside the letterbox lock
  • Unauthorized access to letterbox, with items found missing
• When do you not need to change your letterbox lock?
  • Letterbox key breaking off and getting stuck inside the lock
  • Not being able to insert your letterbox key fully
  • When the metal plate of the letterbox lock has been reversed
• Do you have digital letterbox locks for replacement?
• I still need to change my lock, how do I contact you guys?

Need a locksmith’s help in opening and changing your letterbox lock? You’ve come to the right place!

Understanding the needs of our customers, we have three choices for our customers to choose from: the Sunrise brand, brass cam and the REAL brand letterbox locks. But before we begin:

Can the HDB letterbox lock be changed?

This is a popular question from our customers. Contrary to popular belief, letterbox lock replacement is done by locksmiths, not the HDB or the town councils.

For condos and commercial buildings, we strongly recommend checking with the respective managements in charge. This is because they may have aesthetic regulations in place. You may need to change it back to the same letterbox lock type as your current one.

Can locksmiths change or repair letterboxes?

Our apologies but we can’t change or repair letterboxes, or the flaps connected to the letterboxes. We only handle opening and replacement of letterbox locks.

In such cases, we would advise seeking the assistance of the condominium management, or the HDB and town councils.

Can I replace my mailbox lock myself?

If the current lock isn’t rusty or mouldy, removing the mailbox lock and replacing it yourself should not be an issue. There are instances, however, when these locks have rusted or become mouldy, or you’ve lost the key, the lock becomes very difficult to remove. In such cases, a locksmith’ expertise and assistance would be immensely helpful.

IC verification procedure

Before opening and changing the letterbox lock, we will first verify that the unit belongs to the customer. This is done for security reasons. Do note that we can only proceed after the verification is complete. During this process, we will not take down your IC details, or retain your IC. This is in line with the PDPA procedures in Singapore.

Sunrise brand letterbox lock

Pros:

• Excellent, affordable choice for everyday use
• Suitable for customers who receive most of their letters electronically, and don’t receive parcels through the letterbox
• The keys can be easily duplicated outside.

Cons:

• It can be picked open, so if someone accesses your letterbox you may not know
• May not be suitable for customers who still receive a large amount of letters containing personal details, and parcels.

Additional details:

• Comes with 2 new keys

Target brand letterbox lock (Not available)

Pros:

• Affordable choice for everyday use
• Suitable for customers who receive most of their letters electronically, and don’t receive parcels through the letterbox

Cons:

• It can be picked open, so if someone accesses your letterbox you may not know
• May not be suitable for customers who still receive a large amount of letters containing sensitive, personal details, or parcels.

Additional details:

• Comes with 3 new keys

REAL brand normal design letterbox lock

Pros:

• Made of brass, which provides durability
• Commonly used in older HDB estates, so it’s compatible with HDB letterboxes
• High security: it cannot be picked open. If the keys are lost, we have to break the lock to open it.
• Can deter forced entry, due to a thicker back plate.

• Suitable for customers who receive letters containing sensitive material, or personal details and parcels through the mailbox.

Cons:

• Keys may be harder and more expensive to duplicate outside

Additional details:

• Comes with 3 new keys
• Has a protruding design

REAL brand flushed design letterbox lock

Pros:

• Made of brass, which provides durability
• Flushed design provides a polished and elegant aesthetic to your letterbox
• It cannot be picked open. If the keys are lost, we have to break the lock to open it
• Can deter forced entry, due to a thicker back plate
• Suitable for customers who receive letters with sensitive info, or personal details and parcels through the mailbox.

Cons:

• Keys may be harder and more expensive to duplicate outside.

Additional details:

• Comes with 3 new keys

• Has a flushed design

Brass letterbox cam lock

Pros:

• Made of brass, which provides durability

• The keys can be easily duplicated outside.
• Suitable for customers who receive the majority of their letters electronically, and don’t receive parcels through the mailbox – but want a letterbox lock of better quality.

Cons:

• It can be picked open, so if someone accesses your letterbox, you may not know.
• May not be suitable for customers who still receive a large amount of letters containing sensitive info, personal details, or parcels.

Additional details:

• Comes with 3 new keys

Brass letterbox cam lock (black) (Limited stock available!)

Pros:

• Made of brass, which provides durability
• Suitable for customers who receive the majority of their letters electronically, and don’t receive parcels through the mailbox – but want a letterbox lock of better quality

Cons:

• It can be picked open, so if someone accesses your letterbox, you may not know
• May not be suitable for customers who still receive a large amount of letters containing sensitive info, personal details, or parcels.

Additional details:

• Comes with 3 new keys
• Has a black chrome finishing

Which letterbox lock should I choose for my needs?

Purpose	Letterbox lock type
I still receive lots of parcels and mail with sensitive contents (bank cards, letters). Key duplication is not an issue	REAL brand letterbox lock (normal and flushed designs)
I receive most of my mail electronically, and don’t have parcels. I want a key that is easy to duplicate	Sunrise brand letterbox lock, brass cam letterbox lock

How to identify a letterbox break-in

This is an example of how a damaged letterbox, or an attempt at a letterbox break-in will look like.

Break-ins can occur via several ways. The first involves asking a locksmith to open the lock. This is done via non-destructive methods (lock picking), or to physically force the letterbox open.

Another creative method involves taping the end of a long object with double sided tape. Letters can be retrieved via the letterbox flap.

We advise locking the flap to prevent prying eyes. Investing in a good lock such as the REAL brand lock also prevents such incidents from occurring. If you’ve noticed missing packages or letters occurring repeatedly, we would advise making a police report.

When and why do I need to change my letterbox lock?

Good question there! Here are the five most common reasons cited by our customers:

Moving into a new unit

Our customer from Kallang wanted to replace lock, as the previous owner didn’t return the full sets of keys to them. Additionally, our customer also discovered that their letterbox was still being accessed by the previous owner, as letters were constantly vanishing. We replaced the lock for our customer eventually.

Loss and misplacement of keys

Our customer from Katong had misplaced his keys, and opted for opening and changing the letterbox lock. This would provide him with 2 new keys. Additionally, he could also duplicate more keys.

Harassment issues

Superglued letterbox lock

Our customer’s letterbox lock had been superglued. After chatting with him, we discovered that this had occurred on multiple occasions, leading us to conclude that this was insidious harassment. We immediately advised him to take photos of the superglued lock.

We also advised making a police report with these pictures as evidence, so that he could report the harassment effectively.

Superglued keyless number lock

Thinking that you may be safe if your lock doesn’t come with a keyhole? Not true!

We were surprised to discover that our customer’s number lock in Telok Blangah had been superglued. They had contacted the police before engaging us. When we arrived, there were telltale signs of dried glue dripping down the lock, and on the lock itself. The gaps in between the scrollable numbers had also been glued, so the numbers would not move.

We broke the lock and returned it, advising that the old lock be kept as evidence. We also suggested making another report if the mischief returned.

Broken key inside the letterbox lock

Our customer from Bishan had broken their key inside the lock, but still had a spare. We suggested removing it, so that they could continue using the original HDB lock.

After removing the broken key, we realized that it was bent. The keyhole was also dry, as we experienced stiffness while testing the spare key.

After spraying WD40 into the keyhole, the customer remarked that it was much easier to turn the key.

Unauthorized access to letterbox, with items found missing

Recently, there have been cases of letterbox break-ins, from letterbox tampering to the stealing of grocery vouchers. Prior to these incidents, we had received feedback from customers that their letterboxes had been accessed without their permission. Their parcels had been disappearing over a period of time.

We realized that there were already break-ins happening.

Our customer from Bedok had recently moved into her new unit. She was expecting her new credit card to arrive in her letterbox. Her card never arrived, but she received her bank’s notifications informing her that the card had already been activated.

Several transactions had also been made. She immediately canceled the card, calling us for a same-day appointment to change to the REAL brand flushed lock. She divulged that she had never seen the need for a more secure lock, until this happened to her.

Additionally, we also receive suspicious requests to open the letterbox lock, specifically without damaging the lock. Usually they also want to lock it again after it’s opened. We find these cases fishy, and request that they produce the IC for verification purposes. In return, excuses are given (the IC was not updated yet to the latest address). In return, we decline these jobs.

Check out the video at the bottom of this article, for two simple tips on how to secure your letterbox!

When do you not need to change your letterbox lock?

Letterbox key breaking off and getting stuck inside the lock

We receive cases in which the key breaks off and gets lodged inside the lock. If this happens and you still have a spare key, the lock can still be rescued in some instances by removing the broken key.

Our customer from Bishan broke their key inside the lock. They still had a spare, so we suggested removing the key and preserving the original HDB lock. After the broken key removal, we realized that the broken piece was slightly bent. The keyhole inside was also rather dry, as we experienced stiffness while testing with the spare key.

After spraying some WD40 into the keyhole, the customer remarked that it was much easier to turn the key.

Not being able to insert your letterbox key fully

Can you insert your key, but can’t turn it fully? Your lock may need a little realignment, or clean-up. We can show you how, in the article below.

Read more

When the metal plate of the letterbox lock has been reversed

We have started receiving cases of supposedly ‘faulty’ letterbox locks from an increasing number of customers. Usually, letterboxes are discovered being left open when customers collect their mail. When they try to lock it, they can’t do so.

What piqued our interest was how they had been using the lock without any issues all this time, after ruling out door misalignment and incorrect keys. What on earth could have caused their locks to suddenly malfunction overnight?

After inspection, we realized that the metal plate of the lock had been reversed. This results in the door being unable to be secured. The metal plate cannot make contact with the frame to keep it locked. For the letterbox to be suddenly left open meant that it was accessed without their permission, through lockpicking.

With the previous incidences of questionable locksmithing ethics, we are currently suspecting that this is a possible tactic, which theoretically appears to be more low-key than using superglue.

If you’ve encountered this, we urge you to file a police report before touching your lock. It will be helpful to include additional photos of the front and back of the lock as photographic evidence.

Do you have digital letterbox locks for replacement?

Really sorry, but we don’t carry these locks because they aren’t secure. Have a look at the video below, and you‘ll see what we mean.

I still need to change my lock, how do I contact you guys?

If all else fails and you need to change your mailbox lock, you can contact Vincent Locksmith directly below.

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We can change both HDB and condominium letterbox locks. If you’ve contacted us outside of our operating hours, we will reply on the next working day!

Before contacting us, do check out our other blog posts below!

• Opening and changing letterbox lock
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Changing main gate lockset
• Changing HDB BTO room door lock
• Replacing main door deadbolt lockset
• Changing office cabinet lock

Found this post informative? Be sure to like and follow our Facebook page too, and follow us on Instagram. This post first appeared on 1 April 2018. It has been updated on 18 January 2026 to include bite sized summaries of the various letterbox locks available.

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