If you live northeast of Elmore’s Corner off county roads 223 and 228, it’s possible your mail was sprinkled with gunpowder residue.
Early Monday morning, nearly 40 mailboxes in that area were targeted by vandals who used what authorities believe was a 12-gauge shotgun and unknown blunt object that caused extensive damage.
The crime is classified as criminal mischief, said Sgt. Brandon Tisher with the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office. If the total damage amounts to $1,000 or more, the person responsible could face a class 4 felony charge, he said.
Each mailbox is valued between $34 and $50, he said. Thirteen of those mailboxes were in front of individual homes, and 24 were part of clusters of mailboxes.
Though it’s been awhile, this is not the first time this type of mischief has occurred, Tisher said. Two years ago, a group of young vandals was arrested after damaging several mailboxes on County Road 510, southwest of Bayfield. The extent of the damage reached felony level, he said.
However, this incidence of vandalism appears to be an isolated incident, Tisher said.
Authorities have no leads or suspects, but they know the crime occurred during the early morning when a resident reported a gunshot around 3 a.m. Monday.
Authorities urge anyone with information to call Crimestoppers at 247-1112 to report any suspicious vehicles in the area between 2:30 and 3 a.m. Monday.
vguthrie@durangoherald.com
