Over the last five years or so, the Post Office has taken about 20 percent of the mail (drop) boxes out of service because of the declining volume of first class mail and "security" concerns.
WHEN A MAIL BOX IS TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE, IT SITS THERE WITH NO SIGN OR NOTICE ON IT UNTIL THE POST OFFICE GETS AROUND TO REMOVING IT!!
We just had a case in Chicago where an out-of-service mail box sat there, without any notice, until the neighbors couldn't stuff any more mail into it!
IF IT HAS TO GET OUT, TAKE IT TO A POST OFFICE!!!
Jerry
N9LCD