1 of the bottles exploded, damaging a mailbox, police said.
WILBRAHAM – Police are investigating two recent incidents of plastic soda bottles found in mailboxes with a chemical substance inside which could explode and cause personal injury.
Captain Roger W. Tucker said a two-liter plastic bottle was taken out of one residential mailbox which exploded, damaging the mailbox, but causing no personal injury.
A second bottle was found in a separate mailbox, but the bottle did not explode, Tucker said.
Tucker said various chemicals are used in such explosions, such as toilet bowl cleaner mixed with aluminum pieces.
“The chemical reactions of the contents of the bottle and timing of the combustion and explosion are unpredictable,” Tucker said.
He added, “Similar devices have been used in the past to cause damage to mailboxes or other property.”
Anybody who finds such a bottle in his mailbox should not touch it or remove it, but should contact the Police Department at 596-3838.
Tucker said the bottles can be used as evidence. Touching or moving the bottles could cause injury, Tucker said.