Federal Authorities Seek Suspect Who Blew Up Urbandale Mailbox

What may have been intended as a prank has authorities warning residents that destroying a mailbox is a federal crime punishable by three years in prison.

An Urbandale mailbox in the 15900 block of Winston Avenue was destroyed July 27 when a Dr. Pepper bottle filled with an unknown chemical exploded near it, police said.

Officer Randy Peterson of the  said that residents heard a loud boom about 9:15 p.m. The next morning, a neighbor found pieces of the mailbox scattered in the front yard, along with remnants of a Dr. Pepper bottle.

"It was a pop bottle, and some kind of substance was put in there, and it exploded," Peterson said.

Authorities do not know what chemical was used.

On Thursday, police released a poster from the U.S. Postal Service that says:

Whoever willfully or maliciously injures, tears down or destroys any letter box or other receptacle intended or used for the receipt or delivery of mail on any mail route, or breaks open the same or willfully or maliciously injures, defaces or destroys any mail deposited therein, commits a federal felony violation of Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 1705, and is subject to being fined under this title, and/orimprisoned for up to three years.

Report any Postal Crimes to your local law enforcement agency or the U.S. Postal Inspectors at (877) 876-2455.

On the Urbandale Patch Facebook page, April Graham wrote: "This makes me mad as I am a postal carrier and we could easily be injured or killed by these things. These things are made with supplies that can be bought at the dollar store according to our Postal Inspectors."