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Firecrackers explode in Menlo Park mailboxes
No one injured

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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 330-6300 or the anonymous tip line at 330-6395.

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Comments

Posted by SusieQ, a resident of the Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park neighborhood, on Jun 19, 2012 at 3:09 pm

Wonder if the recipients were chosen at random or if there's a connection between them all...or perhaps their mailboxes were most accessible and the shape most suitable? Would be nice to get the police department's take on this.


Posted by NLemon, a resident of the Menlo Park: University Heights neighborhood, on Jun 20, 2012 at 3:15 pm

I can tell you that the mailbox on N Lemon was metal and was blown into many pieces, some of which blew across and down the street. This was the darkest part of our street so perhaps that is why they chose that mailbox. I hope the police are taking this seriously because there was a couple walking down our street with their dog and they were only a few houses away when the explosion happened.


Posted by Hmmm, a resident of another community, on Jun 20, 2012 at 5:25 pm

How terrifying! It's clear that injuries can happen when someone pulls this type of "prank"- which is actually a crime & can have serious ramifications. NLemon - thanks for adding the info. I've done a lot of walking in that area & since it's summer, there are a lot of people about.


Posted by bob, a resident of the Woodside: other neighborhood, on Jun 21, 2012 at 2:18 pm

These eound more like M80's than firecrackers an M80 is very dangerous. Firecrackers not so much.This is not a prank.


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