The large metal mailbox, which weighs between 80 and 100 kilograms, was stolen from the front of Dave McAuliffe’s home last Friday. 

It was found dumped in an industrial area in Wodonga on Wednesday morning after likely being dumped by the thieves the previous night. 

Mr McAuliffe believes interest in the item had probably made the thieves scared, causing them to ditch it. 

“Everyone had their eyes and ears open,” he said. 

“After I picked it up I had a stranger call me to say he had seen it on a truck, which was actually me taking it home.

“I’m going to reinstall it on the weekend and try to make it more vandal-proof.”