By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
(Previous story can be read here .)
Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office investigators are delving into “a possible lead” as they work to
solve a series of mailbox burglaries and vandalisms in several areas of the county, Sheriff Joe
Frank Martinez said Friday.
The vandalism and break-ins of several community mailboxes, known as cluster mailboxes, in at
least two areas of the county became the topic of a lengthy conversation and debate during
Wednesday’s meeting of Val Verde County Commissioners Court.
In addition to discussing the legality of the county paying for replacing or repairing the
mailboxes, the topic of placing cameras near the mailbox stations and more adequate lighting
near them was also raised during the meeting.
Martinez told The 830 Times his deputies and investigators began looking into the
vandalisms and thefts as soon as they were reported.
Martinez said, “In reference to the thefts from the mailboxes, we are investigating, and from my
understanding, we have a possible lead.”
The sheriff said among the items taken from one of the mailboxes was a check, which someone
then tried to cash.
“The investigators are following up on that,” Martinez said.
The sheriff said his office is also taking some proactive steps.
“We’ve taken some, hopefully, preventive measures that will help us if there are any other break-
ins to any of these mailboxes. We’ve set up some equipment that will be able to help us, and
we’ve set those up in a variety of locations,” Martinez said.
The sheriff said he understands the frustration of citizens whose mailboxes were targeted.
“We’re working to try and come up with something,” he said.
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