POLICE are hunting thieves who have been targeting rural post boxes.

Four Royal Mail pillar mounted post boxes have been stolen from villages around Dorchester, and there has been a further attempted theft of the post box on Islington Road in Bockhampton.

Witnesses to any of the incidents, or anyone who has seen suspicious activity near rural post boxes are being urged to contact Dorset Police on 101.

Alternatively they can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, quoting crime reference number C:15:D:277.

A Dorset Police spokesman said the thefts took place between December 11 and January 2.

The post box at Waddock Cross was stolen between December 11 and 12, the one at Muckleford was stolen between December 31 and January 2 and two post boxes in Owermoigne and Crossways were taken between December 29 and 30.

The attempted theft of the post box at Bockhampton took place between December 7 and 9.

All the thefts are being linked and no arrests have been made.

The spokesman said: “The offenders have stolen the post boxes by pulling them from their pillars that they are mounted on.”

Royal Mail spokesperson Val Bodden said: "We can confirm that postboxes in the Dorchester and Dorset area have been stolen recently. We have some 115,000 post boxes around the country and thankfully thefts like these are relatively rare.

"Royal Mail urges anyone with any information about these, or any other postboxes, to contact the police.

"Royal Mail apologises to any of its customers who have been inconvenienced by these thefts. Customers are advised to use other postboxes in the area or of course drop their mail off at any Post Office branch.  Boxes are cleared six days a week and we would advise anyone who has any concerns about their mail to contact our customer services team on 08457 740 740."