Thieves targeting rural post boxes : Swindon

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Rural post boxes in the Swindon area are being targeted by a gang of thieves.

Residents in Purton have reported a post box located on the B4553 at the junction of Cross Lanes was ripped from its wooden post.

An email sent to Wiltshire councillors by the West Swindon Royal Mail office seen by the Adver said there was a problem.

It said: “The SN post code is currently suffering from a large number of rural post boxes being stolen by a gang of thieves.

“Royal Mail is working with the police and a decision on replacement will be made in due course.”


County councillor for Purton Jackie Lay said: “The more rural and isolated boxes are more risk.

“That particular one was because it was in the layby, therefore a van could park up against it and nobody would know what you’re doing.

“I thought it was very unusual. I’m wondering if they’re collectable. Perhaps someone is thinking that it’s a nice box to have in their garden.

“I thought that the law is very clear when it comes to interfering with Her Majesty’s royal mail.

“It’s not quite treason but if you tamper with the mail it’s very serious.

Residents in Purton are now running low on options for their mail after the one at the best-one shop in Purton was hit by a car in the recent snow and taken away by the Post Office.

“It’s a shame because I know one or two people who are out that way and found that box very useful. It was useful if were driving past and you could pull up and put your post it. But the other thing now is if you’re going to put your post in a Royal Mail Box is it likely to be lost?”

Swindon Royal Mail managed to recover two letters left by the thieves who stole the box but left behind its contents.

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “We can confirm that a small number of postboxes have been stolen in the SN5 and SN7 areas surrounding Swindon. We are working with the police to investigate the thefts. We apologise to customers for any inconvenience this may cause, and advise customers to use other postboxes in the area or to drop their mail off at any Post Office branch.”


“Royal Mail has around 115,000 post boxes across the country and thankfully thefts of postboxes are relatively rare.

“We treat all theft of mail and of postboxes extremely seriously and if anyone has any information, they should contact the police immediately.

“In the meantime, if customers are concerned about any mail posted, they should contact Royal Mail Customer Services on 03457 740 740.”

In Oxfordshire a Victorian letter box worth £800 was stolen last August by a suspected gang of thieves. The heritage group The Letterbox Study Group estimates 200 go missing every year.