Letterbox fishing is a burglary method in which a thief pushes a hook, wire or rod through the letterbox in a front door to pull keys off a hook or table, or to reach the inside handle or thumbturn and open the door from within.
No broken glass, no forced lock, no noise. In the morning the door is simply unlocked and your keys are gone. Letterbox fishing is one of the least visible ways into an Amsterdam home, and the typical Dutch front door makes it easy: a letter slot at hand height, a key hook just inside and a thumbturn on the lock. This blog explains how it works and what you can change.
How letterbox fishing works
The thief feeds a bent wire or a telescopic hook through the mail slot. There are two targets. The first is anything with a key on it within reach: a hook on the wall, a bowl on the hall table, a coat pocket. The second is the door itself.
If your lock has a thumbturn or a lever handle on the inside, the hook can turn it and the door opens. Either way the burglar walks in through the front door and leaves the same way.
Why Amsterdam front doors are an easy target
- Many doors have a letter slot in the door itself rather than a separate mailbox on the wall.
- Halls are narrow, so the key hook or hall table is close to the door.
- Thumbturn cylinders are popular because they let you leave quickly without a key. From the inside that is convenient; through a letterbox it is an invitation.
- Shared entrance doors in portiek buildings often have a lever handle inside that opens the door with one push.
What you can change today
Move every key out of reach of the mail slot, including spare keys, car keys and bike keys. A drawer in another room is enough. Then look at the door. A letterbox with an inside cover plate or a brush seal blocks the view and most hooks. A separate wall mounted mailbox outside, with the door slot sealed, removes the problem completely.
What a locksmith can change
The thumbturn is the real weak point. On a door with a letter slot, a cylinder with a thumbturn inside means the door can be opened without a key from outside. The alternative is a cylinder that needs a key on both sides, or a thumbturn that only works after it is unlocked.
A letterbox guard that stops a hook from reaching past the slot can be fitted at the same time, and we check that the cylinder has anti snap protection, because a burglar who cannot fish will try the cylinder next. The lock security page covers these upgrades.
After a fishing attempt
If keys have been fished, treat them as stolen. The burglar now has a key that fits your door and often a tag or post with your address. Replace the cylinder the same day; our lock replacement service handles that in one visit. Report it to the police, because letterbox fishing is rarely a single incident in a street.
Frequently asked questions
What is letterbox fishing?
A burglary method where a thief pushes a hook or wire through the mail slot to pull keys from inside the hall or to turn the inside handle or thumbturn and open the door.
Does it happen in Amsterdam?
Yes. Doors with a letter slot, a narrow hall and a thumbturn lock are common in Amsterdam, and that combination is exactly what letterbox fishing needs.
How do I stop letterbox fishing?
Keep keys out of reach of the slot, fit a letterbox guard or cover, and replace a thumbturn cylinder with one that cannot be turned from the outside.
Should I replace my lock if my keys were fished?
Yes, the same day. The thief has a working key and usually knows your address. Replacing the cylinder makes that key useless.
Can Locksmith Amsterdam secure my door against letterbox fishing?
Yes. Call +31 (0)20 210 1986, describe your door and we replace the thumbturn cylinder and check the letterbox in one visit, with the price confirmed before we start.
Want your front door checked for letterbox fishing? Call Locksmith Amsterdam on +31 (0)20 210 1986. We assess the door on site, day or night, and confirm the price before we start.
