Stolen post box appeared on eBay

25 November 2004 21:58

A Victorian postbox appeared on an auction website the day after it was stolen, it emerged tonight.

The antique box was ripped out of a wall at the corner of Chestnut Road and King's Road, Wisbech, leaving nothing but rubble and a gaping hole.

Bearing the inscription VR, it was not in use but had been restored by Royal Mail following a request from the Wisbech Society.

Local councillor Ann Carlisle said: “It had been restored to its original colours of dark green with gold lettering – someone must have used a lot of force to remove it.

“It's very sad, particularly after people had gone to lots of effort to restore it.”

The box had been sealed by Royal Mail because it was too narrow for business post, and a modern red box installed a few feet away.

Miss Carlisle said she understood that the box had appeared on eBay the evening after the theft, which happened between 10am and 5pm last Wednesday.

A spokesman for Royal Mail said: “We are aware that it has been stolen and we have contacted the police. We would like to point out that it was sealed up some years ago and there would have been no mail inside.”

Inquiries by Wisbech police are continuing. Anyone with information should call 0845 4564564.

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