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Uploaded: Tuesday, June 19, 2012, 1:48 PM
Firecrackers explode in Menlo Park mailboxes
No injuries reported following vandalism
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by Sandy Brundage
Almanac Staff
One thing more unwelcome than a bill in one's mailbox may be a firecracker, as a string of Menlo Park residents discovered last week.
A red pickup truck reportedly fled the scene after explosions dented and destroyed two Menlo Park mailboxes, one on North Lemon Avenue and another on Cotton Street, shortly after 9 p.m. on June 14.
A day earlier, a mailbox blew up on San Mateo Drive around 9 p.m. Police suspect fireworks caused all three explosions.
So far no one's been hurt by the vandalism. Suspect information remains scarce, although a witness spotted a man leaning out of the passenger side window of the red pickup truck shortly before the Cotton Street incident.
Police ask anyone with information about the crimes to call Menlo Park police at 650-330-6300 or the anonymous tip line at 650-330-6395.Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.
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Posted by Alphonso, a resident of Los Altos Hills, on Jun 19, 2012 at 2:28 pm That sure sounds serious - almost as bad as dogs peeing on fire hydrants.
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Posted by bomb, a resident of the Adobe-Meadows neighborhood, on Jun 19, 2012 at 2:56 pm How many firecrackers do you need to destroy a mailbox? I am dubious that toy firecrackers could do damage like this. Maybe some kind of commercial or military explosive?
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Posted by neighbor, a resident of another community, on Jun 19, 2012 at 4:19 pm Not quite like a dog peeing on a hydrant (or anywhere else) --- Firecrackers in a mailbox can blow your hand off
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Posted by Hmmm, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Jun 19, 2012 at 5:26 pm Yeah, if given the choice, I'll take the urinating dog, please. The firecrackers were left maliciously. It's a lousy thing to do as a prank. Please, moron responsible - if you read this thread (can you read?), please do something less harmful & more in line w/your maturity level - like play doorbell ditch.
Not to be over alarmist, but if there's mail in the boxes & it gets destroyed, is that a federal offense?
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Posted by Anonymouse, a resident of Menlo Park, on Jun 19, 2012 at 10:37 pm When I grew up in the 80's in Fremont, a few kids in my neighborhood would blow up mailboxes with firecrackers called "M-80s". The word was that each M-80 was equal to a quarter stick of dynamite. Regardless of what firepower they actually had, they were damn powerful and could certainly seriously maim or kill someone if they were close enough.
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Posted by the_punnisher, a resident of Mountain View, on Jun 20, 2012 at 10:54 am
the_punnisher is a member (registered user) of Palo Alto Online Everyone should know that a person who is damaging or destroying a mailbox is committing a FELONY. Don't let the local P.D. tell you anything different.
That is why people cannot legally put ANYTHING in a mailbox without the USPS' approval. Fireworks are prohibited. See your local USPS office for details.
How do I know this? The story involves a snowplow driver, a County Sheriff and ultimately a brand new mailbox. ( yes, it was properly installed as per USPS regulations )
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Posted by Tom, a resident of another community, on Jun 21, 2012 at 5:44 pm I don't know about the rest of the over-reactionists here but when I see someone put a firework in a mailbox I generally don't immediately check the mail. Besides obviously if you've left your mail in the box past 9pm, chances are its junk anyways. Dumb prank...dumber reactions.
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