(NORWICH TOWNSHIP, ON.) – The Oxford County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is investigating mischief to a rural area school’s mailbox which occurred over the weekend. OPP suspect this new incident may be connected to six other mischiefs to mailboxes that were reported in the same area in early December 2013.
OPP would like to clarify that the previous six cases of mischief to mailboxes on Old Stage Road were consistent with the suspects smashing the mailboxes. Only the last reported mischief is suspected to involve the use of a chemicals mixed in the plastic bottle. Police suspect these incidents might be related as they are similar targets, occurred on the same road and occurred overnight on weekends. A copy of the previous mischief release from December 6, 2013 is attached.
This latest incident occurred between Friday January 10th in the early evening and Sunday January 12th before 10:00 a.m., unknown suspects damaged the mailbox at the East Oxford Public School, located on Old Stage Road. The mailbox was discovered damaged by school staff on Sunday morning.
OPP were called in to investigate when suspicious contents were found in and around the mailbox. Further investigation has led OPP to suspect that some type of chemicals were mixed together to cause a plastic bottle to explode inside the mailbox, leaving the front and rear of the mailbox damaged.
As a general precaution, police urge the public if they discover any suspicious plastic bottles that may be misshapen or bloated, to avoid handling them and call police.
Any person with information regarding the person(s) responsible for these incidents, are urged to contact OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.