Royal Mail set to tag rural post boxes
Royal Mail plans to use electronic tracking systems to deter thieves from stealing rural post boxes. A source at Royal Mail told the Agence France-Presse news agency: “Theft of post boxes is relatively rare but there are spates involving individuals or gangs.”
Rare post box models can sell for more than £5,000, so this is a lucrative market. It is believed that the “black market” started developing when Royal Mail stopped auctioning off its surplus-to-requirements boxes in 2003.
More than 100 post boxes are stolen every year in the UK.
A spokesperson for Royal Mail confirmed to Post&Parcel today (3 August) that the company is “looking at equipment, including forensic tags, permanent metal-marking systems and electronic tracking, to help prevent unlawful damage or removal of Royal Mail post boxes”.
Royal Mail revealed details of the high-tech security measures on 15 July, when it announced the launch of a new commitment between Royal Mail and Historic England to preserve the character and heritage of UK post boxes.
Click here to access the policy document which includes information on the preventative measures.
