英邮筒安装电子标签防盗

 　　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。

　　英邮筒安装电子标签防盗

　　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 enthusiasts’ association, told the Daily Telegraph: ‘There are people who are after scrap⁷ 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。

　　Vocabulary

　　spate：一连串

　　forensic：法医的

1 deter   

vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住

参考例句：

• Failure did not deter us from trying it again.失败并没有能阻挡我们再次进行试验。
• Dogs can deter unwelcome intruders.狗能够阻拦不受欢迎的闯入者。

2 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。

3 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

4 spates   

n.大量( spate的名词复数 )；（河流）暴涨；发洪水；（人）口若悬河

参考例句：

5 forensic   

adj.法庭的，雄辩的

参考例句：

• The report included his interpretation of the forensic evidence.该报告包括他对法庭证据的诠释。
• The judge concluded the proceeding on 10:30 Am after one hour of forensic debate.经过近一个小时的法庭辩论后，法官于10时30分宣布休庭。

6 auction   

n.拍卖；拍卖会；vt.拍卖

参考例句：

• They've put the contents of their house up for auction.他们把房子里的东西全都拿去拍卖了。
• They bought a new minibus with the proceeds from the auction.他们用拍卖得来的钱买了一辆新面包车。

7 scrap   

n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废

参考例句：

• A man comes round regularly collecting scrap.有个男人定时来收废品。
• Sell that car for scrap.把那辆汽车当残品卖了吧。