Crisis as Britain’s ‘cultural identity’ attacked by postbox thieves | UK | News

Iconic British postboxes have been stolen in a series of thefts, sparking police to urge locals to monitor others in case of further incidents. Police believe the famous red postboxes could have been taken for their heritage value and sent abroad.

More than 110 were stolen across the UK in 2025, with four removed in rural areas of southern Cheshire. The local police force is working with Royal Mail in an attempt to prevent further thefts, while also making a plea to the public. PC Jonathan Lightfoot, a rural crime officer with Cheshire Police, encouraged communities to “keep an eye on” postboxes they fear could be vulnerable and report any worries to the police.

Speaking to the BBC, he said the thefts meant “part of history had left”.

He said the thefts could also be for people to display outside their homes because they are “quite ornamental”, singling out the door of the postbox in particular because it carries the monarch’s cipher.

Chris Taft, collections manager at the Postal Museum, said the ciphers mean the postboxes — which he described as a “little bit of history in the streets” and part of Britain’s “cultural identity” — can be dated.

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“It’s destroying parts of our heritage and I think it’s awful that people feel the need to steal these things, often damaging them in the process,” he added.

PC Lightfoot said Cheshire Police, alongside Royal Mail, is using new technology to try to stop additional thefts.

He said they are looking at techniques like forensic marking, while also trialling a scanning software to build 3D models of postboxes.

The officer explained: “Then we’ll have a record of what it looks like. So if we find one that is stolen, then we can compare it to records of ones we’ve already scanned and prove that that’s from there.”

A Royal Mail spokesperson said postbox thefts were “relatively rare” and staff work with local police if they notice a number have been stolen.

They said: “Across the UK, we work with Crimestoppers to encourage people to come forward to any details of postbox thefts.”