Stolen postbox ‘could have been used as fuel for campfire’

Following an appeal, officers were forced to state that the investigation was 'not a joke' as a pensioner was the victim of a crime.

Jenness Mitchell

24th Oct 2020

Police investigating the theft of a pensioner’s postbox said it may have been used as fuel for a campfire found nearby.

The white wooden box, which had felt on its roof, had been at the foot of the 80-year-old’s lochside property for more than 30 years.

Following a public appeal, officers were forced to state that the investigation was ‘not a joke’.

Posting on Facebook, a spokesperson said: “No, this isn’t a joke, and while this might not be the most serious of crimes we’ve ever made an appeal for, it’s still a crime where an 80-year-old man – who has every right to expect that his property will be safe where it’s been for decades – is now the victim of a theft.”

The postbox was taken from the man’s driveway on the south side of Loch Rannoch in Perthshire at some point between 6.30pm on Friday, October 16 and 10am on Saturday, October 17.

The force spokesperson said: “It has no potential monetary value for whoever has taken it.

“The possibility exists that the postbox was stolen and used on a campfire that was found nearby, however we are obviously unable to confirm this.”

If you have any information, call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.