Ingenuity needed retrieving item dropped through letterbox
Discussion
Scotch VHB double-sided foam tape is about as good as it gets in terms of instant stick. You can buy short lengths of it for attaching car number plates.
Stick some to the end of a couple of pieces of wood glued to form an 'L' shape, with the longer piece being the distance from the letter box to the floor, and the other piece long enough to hold, go through the letter box and reach to where the envelope is.
If you are really keen (to avoid embarrassment, mainly) you could rig up a dummy letter box with a hole in a cardboard box at home and practice your technique before attempting the real thing.
A call to the local plod in advance may save embarrassment later.
Stick some to the end of a couple of pieces of wood glued to form an 'L' shape, with the longer piece being the distance from the letter box to the floor, and the other piece long enough to hold, go through the letter box and reach to where the envelope is.
If you are really keen (to avoid embarrassment, mainly) you could rig up a dummy letter box with a hole in a cardboard box at home and practice your technique before attempting the real thing.
A call to the local plod in advance may save embarrassment later.
Mazda3_Nuts said:
A weight tied to some string. Dab some superglue on weight, plonk onto item to retrieve, wait until glue sets and pull out. Along with a telescopic mirror so you can see what you're doing. Simples 
Good grief that’s a good plan! Why has nobody suggested it before??? 
I should imagine the OP’s busily training a snake though. It’s got to be the best way and once this job’s done, he’ll be able to hire it out in future and recoup the cost of his ‘ahem’ key.
Have you moved on from stealing cars now?
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
The true PH answer here should surely be:
smash her back doors in
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
The true PH answer here should surely be:
smash her back doors in
- Using a Fairy liquid bottle, spray a slurry of rotten fish, meat etc. through letter box.
- Allow to fester for a few days.
- Call plod. 'Strange smell from flat, not seen tenant for a few weeks'
- As the battering ram crew gain access, follow them in, grab Jiffy bag.
- If the plod spot you picking it up, 'Oh, this? It was in my pocket and dropped out in the excitement. Look, its even got my address on it.'
Find a rook's nest, steal egg, lower egg through letterbox.
Wait for egg to hatch and then feed worms to the thing until it is big enough to be trained to open an envelope and give you the key.
Don't over train it though because if it works out that it can probably never escape it will become less willing to assist.
Once you have the key, shoot the bird.
Wait for egg to hatch and then feed worms to the thing until it is big enough to be trained to open an envelope and give you the key.
Don't over train it though because if it works out that it can probably never escape it will become less willing to assist.
Once you have the key, shoot the bird.
robbocop33 said:
Mission is to retrieve small jiffy bag with a key inside that has been dropped through a household letterbox.I need the key to cut it and program it for a customer,and postie has dropped it through the flat next door,which is unoccupied!:-)
It has one of those cheap bendy plastic white front doors,anyone any ideas?
So.... you’re not by any chance by a locksmith? It has one of those cheap bendy plastic white front doors,anyone any ideas?
(I need the key to cut it and program for a customer....)
I’ve seen this syndrome before, where people get so fixated on a problem that they forget the wider knowledge, tools and skills that already surround them. (Ref, my own life)
At the risk of sounding ridiculous... Could you not cut yourself a key for the door (master) or use some picks...
(Yes I’m being silly)
This happened to me with the key for an Air B&B. RoyalMail "Signed for" ha-ha signed for and left at empty flat next door. Holiday approaches. No knocking and pushing on door help.
Renter tried to help. Firstly it was suggested I try and climb into any of my neighbours flats via the outside windows (we were on the third floor) round to the flat the post had been mis-delivered to.
I was next told to try the service riser and see if it led to the roof void. The roof void 'usually' lead to the individual loft hatches. Great, but there were three floors of flats above me.
"Can you at least go try the door on the empty flat?" by this point pleads the Air BnB guy. Lo and behold I pushed the door and no joy. Then I though, hold on this door has a handle (not many front doors do and none of the others n that floor did) and the handle turns, the door opens, I look down see a load of mail including the key containing envelope to me and WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH" off goes the apartment alarm.
Good job I was off on hols!
Not so likened by my fellow block mates on return!
Renter tried to help. Firstly it was suggested I try and climb into any of my neighbours flats via the outside windows (we were on the third floor) round to the flat the post had been mis-delivered to.
I was next told to try the service riser and see if it led to the roof void. The roof void 'usually' lead to the individual loft hatches. Great, but there were three floors of flats above me.
"Can you at least go try the door on the empty flat?" by this point pleads the Air BnB guy. Lo and behold I pushed the door and no joy. Then I though, hold on this door has a handle (not many front doors do and none of the others n that floor did) and the handle turns, the door opens, I look down see a load of mail including the key containing envelope to me and WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH" off goes the apartment alarm.
Good job I was off on hols!
Not so likened by my fellow block mates on return!
Edited by jeremyc on Wednesday 11th December 12:18
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