LAKE OSWEGO, Ore. (KOIN) — A Lake Oswego man says someone has blown up his mailbox not once, but 5 times. Now the entire neighborhood is on high alert as local authorities work to identify the suspect.
“I heard this explosion, it basically shook the house,” victim Michael Silberbach recalled. “The neighbors thought their windows were going to break.”
Last week, Silberbach set up a home surveillance camera to catch the bomber in the act.
“He’s a tall guy, he bends over, lights a match and you see his face light up,” Silberbach said. “The look on his face is one of focus and clearly malintent.”
It’s the fifth mailbox in 2.5 years that Silberbach says has been blown up by the unidentified man.
“The first time it was just a prank,” he speculated. “My theory is that our mailbox is on a corner, not easily seen… We never knew it was going to happen. I have children.”
Lake Oswego Police say they have started doing extra patrols in the area.
Neighbors tell KOIN 6 News they are looking forward to the suspect’s arrest.
“I’m going to put this on my Facebook, I’m going to tell everyone I know about it,” neighbor Heather Lyell said.
According to police, the man’s actions are considered a felony.
“If this young man is watching this right now, I would say to him that it is time to grow up and to take your punishment before you get yourself into a lot deeper trouble,” Silberbach said.
According to the Portland Tribune, Silberbach is offering a $200 reward for information leading to an arrest or conviction. Anyone with information about the identity of the person in the video is asked to contact the Lake Oswego Police Department at 503-635-0250.