Published: June 29, 2009 09:41 am      

Mail damaged by fire; post office seeks assistance

CLINTON — There was a vandalism to the blue mail collection box across from Mercy North Hospital in the 1400 block of North Fourth Street sometime between 5:30 p.m. June 23 and 3 p.m. June 24.

It appeared that an item was set on fire and deposited into the collection box burning mail inside. The post office cannot be sure how many pieces were affected, but based on the ash amount, it believes it to be minimal. Customers who may have deposited mail between these hours are encouraged to call the Clinton Post Office and report what they had deposited. Mail that was unharmed was recorded and then dispatched as normal.

Lori Callahan, Officer-in-Charge, strongly encourages customers to deposit mail in collection boxes during daytime hours and before the posted collection times instead of during the nighttime hours because if vandalism is going to occur, it is more likely to happen at night.

Federal investigators are investigating the incident.

Anyone having information concerning the vandalism is asked to call the Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455. Vandalism to a postal collection box is a federal offense punishable by up to three years in prison.