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Dorset Police was informed on September 8 at 9.15pm that the postbox outside Derek J Rolls Estate Agents on Wimborne Road had been set alight.
Wendy Rolls said the postbox had not been the only target of the fire and that a lit serviette had been posted into their office.
The blaze was put out by Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Ms Rolls said: “When the officer manager got in this morning [September 9], there was a burnt serviette on our doormat.
“Thank god no damage has been done.
“The post lady came to empty the post box sometime late morning and some idiot had obviously posted something lighted or an accelerant into the post box.”
Letters inside the mailbox, which included the estate agent’s mailbox, were destroyed.
Although frustrating, Wendy explained that they would be able to rewrite the letters but felt upset that anyone else who had posted a letter might not know that it wouldn’t arrive.
She said: “My only motive for posting it on Facebook was in case some poor person had put some post in there that was never going to get to its recipient.
“We know from our records what was posted on Saturday but there’s so much mindless vandalism in this area at the moment.
“Every day somebody posts that their car has either been broken into or stolen.”
The Royal Mail have confirmed the fire that the post box is still functional despite the incident.
It has referred the matter to police.
A spokesperson for the Royal Mail said: “We can confirm a postbox on Wimbourne Road was recently set alight. The mail inside was unfortunately damaged irretrievably.
“Despite this, the box is still functional and customers can use it as normal.”
Police have launched an investigation into the incident, which is being treated as arson.
No arrests have been made.
A spokesperson for DW Fire said: “We were called to Redhill Crescent at 8.37pm, Sunday, September 8, with reports of smoke coming from a post box.
“A crew from Redhill Park attended and extinguished it using one hose reel jet. Our stop was at 8.49pm.”
