The Kennewick Police Department is investigating a series of 'Drano bombs' that have destroyed several mailboxes.
Though no one has been hurt yet, police say it's only a matter of
time. These 'Drano bombs' are made with just a plastic bottle, some
tinfoil and a household drain cleaner, like Drano. The chemical reaction
of the hydrochloric acid and the tinfoil inside the bottle causes an
explosion.
Someone is leaving these contraptions in people's mailboxes. They've
all happened in the last week and all in the same part of Kennewick.
They've happened on South Garfield, South Olympia and South Newport
Streets.
One home's mailbox was even destroyed twice.
"So far all we're
talking about is property damage. However, this is dangerous. You've
got shrapnel moving through the air. The timing could be just right,
somebody walks up to check their mail, young or old, and they could be
seriously injured or killed," said Sergeant Ken Lattin.
Lattin
said leaving these bombs around is a felony. Not only will the culprits
be charged with that but mailboxes are considered federal property and
vandalizing them in any way is considered a federal offense.
Police
are asking that parents check their cleaning supplies to see if
anything's missing. They believe whoever's responsible does live in the
area where the recent explosions have occurred.
