Rural post boxes are being fitted with electronic tags to deter¹ criminals from stealing them to sell for £5,000 or more.

英国乡村地区的邮筒近日被装上电子标签，以遏制罪犯偷盗邮筒并将其以5000英镑或更多的价钱卖掉。

At least 100 of the traditional red boxes are taken every year, with those in isolated² towns and villages most at risk.

每年至少有100只传统红色邮筒被盗，偏远城镇和村庄的邮筒最有可能被盗。

The ‘significant threat’ has driven the Royal Mail to tag what they say is ‘part of the national image’.

这一“严重威胁”迫使皇家邮政（ Royal Mail）给他们称之为“国家形象的一部分”的邮筒“贴”上了标签。

Gangs are thought to be targeting the boxes after four Victorian ones were stolen from three Norfolk villages over just one weekend in January.

在一月份短短一个周末内，诺福克郡（Norfolk）的三个村庄就有四只维多利亚时期邮筒被盗，人们认为有犯罪团伙将邮筒定为偷盗目标。

Hi-tech equipment will be used to track boxes that go missing, a Royal Mail spokesman said, adding: ‘Theft of post boxes is relatively³ rare but there are spates⁴ involving individuals or gangs.

皇家邮政的发言人表示，将利用高科技设备追踪丢失的邮筒，并补充说：“邮筒盗窃的行为相对还是比较少的，但确实有着个人或是团伙实施的一连串偷盗事件。”

‘We have an internal security team looking at equipment including forensic⁵ tags, permanent metal-marking systems and electronic tracking.’

“我们有一支内部安全团队察看包括法医标签、永久性金属打标系统以及电子追踪的设备。”

There are thought to be 800 different types of post boxes in Britain, and unusual ones can command £5,700 at auction⁶.

英国被认为有800种不同类型的邮筒，稀有罕见的邮筒在拍卖会上可能拍到5700英镑的高价。

They are thought to have become even more valuable after Royal Mail stopped selling old boxes in 2003, pushing up demand.

自皇家邮政于2003年起停止售卖邮筒，这些邮筒就变得更为金贵，进而推动了需求。

Robert Cole, of the Letter Box Study Group enthusiasts⁷’ association, told the Daily Telegraph: ‘There are people who are after scrap⁸ metal, those interested in the contents and those who know the boxes’ heritage value.’

“邮箱研究组”（Letter Box Study Group）爱好者协会成员罗伯特•科尔（Robert Cole）告诉《每日电讯报》（Daily Telegraph）的记者：“有些人喜爱废金属，有些人对其中的内容感兴趣，还有些人则了解这些邮筒的遗产价值。”

The group has found around 800 different types of post boxes around Britain.

该小组在英国已发现大约800种不同类型的邮筒。