Villagers call out Royal Mail after post box theft

Villagers in Guestwick, between Aylsham and Fakenham, have been demanding answers from Royal Mail since April when their last remaining post box was stolen by thieves – the second in as many years.

A replacement box was promised by November, but repeated attempts to get an update have gone unanswered.

The Victorian post box on Reepham Road (Image: J Thomas)

The letter encouraging locals to use their post box (Image: Judith Wood)

To make matters worse, this month every house in the village received a letter from the Royal Mail reminding people to “pop” their festive letters and parcels in a post box.

Judith Wood, a retiree living in the village, said the leaflet was “maddening”.

“It feels quite sad and ironic that the Post Office is urging us to use post boxes but not replacing our post box,” she said. 

Judith Wood said the village has grown increasingly frustrated (Image: Judith Wood)

“Yes we can use emails, yes we are moving away from paper, but it’s that time of year where we like to send a card and in our village we cannot.

“It’s a massive inconvenience.”

Guestwick, a village of around 200 residents, once had two post boxes before they were both stolen in the space of two years.

Villagers, many elderly and without a car, have now been forced to travel to other post boxes in neighbouring villages or make their way to Cawston’s post office six miles away.

Dave Thomas, the Broadland councillor representing the area, said the lack of progress was now “affecting everyday life”.

Dave Thomas with the remains of the stolen box (Image: Dave Thomas)

“Royal Mail assured us the post box would be replaced by mid-autumn, yet we are now well beyond that deadline with no communication. 

“Villagers simply want the service they were promised restored.”

Guestwick’s stolen post boxes mark a growing issue in the region.

Over the summer, North Norfolk MP Steff Aquarone took up a similar case in Felbrigg, near Cromer, where a village post box was also stolen and not replaced.

He brought the matter to Parliament, criticising Royal Mail for failing to restore vital services to rural communities.

Steff Aquarone raised the issue of stolen post boxes in Parliament (Image: Steff Aquarone)

A Freedom of Information request to Norfolk Police revealed that more than 50 post boxes were stolen across the county between 2019 and 2024 – an average of 10 thefts per year.

Some can fetch thousands online, with rare, double cast iron pillar boxes selling for as much as £12,000.

Royal Mail has been approached for comment.