‘Coward’: Masked man behind letterbox explosions target of police investigation

An elderly Bellarine Peninsula woman says a mysterious “coward” has repeatedly blown her letterbox “to shreds” in the dead of night. SEE THE FOOTAGE

A serial pest has allegedly used homemade explosives to repeatedly blow up an elderly St Leonards woman’s letterbox.

According to the victim, 69-year-old Judy Alexander, the letterbox has been the target of 15 separate attacks over a five to six-year period.

Police are investigating.

In his most recent attack, the masked man was caught on CCTV placing a glowing explosive device into the letterbox of a St Leonards home late on April 1.

St Leonards' Judy Alexander has had her letterbox blown up multiple times. Picture: Alison Wynd

Ms Alexander told the Geelong Advertiser she heard a “big bang” and went to check the damage.

“I could see that the lid had flown off and I went out to check and see if the car was all right,” she said.

The latest incident saw the man, wearing a black hoodie and a mask, run towards the home and place the device inside the letterbox about 10.40pm.

Police are investigating an explosion after the masked man was caught placing a glowing device in a letterbox on CCTV. Picture: Supplied

The explosion late on April 1 is the latest of a series of attacks against the same letterbox. Picture: Supplied.

He can be seen running off down Old St Leonards Rd in the pouring rain moments before the small explosion.

The 69-year-old said she is “desperate” for the masked menace to be stopped and wants him to leave her letterbox alone.

Ms Alexander said while most of the attacks have been targeted at her letterbox, her car’s tyres have been slashed and a wheel was stolen in prior to the latest incident.

“I’m desperate for this to stop … I’m more angry than I am terrified,” she said.

She added that she did not know who the man was or why he was targeting her and her letterbox.

Ms Alexander put up the letterbox a couple of years ago, as she did not want to pay for a postal box in town.

Since then, the mail carrier has been “blown to shreds” on several occasions.

Finally able to catch him in the act on CCTV, and share photos of the man with police, she hopes investigators will now be able to catch the person behind the string of attacks.

“He’s become more sophisticated as time has gone on,” she said.

“It’s like something out of Mission Impossible … he’s determined to get my letterbox.

“He’s come out dressed like a crook.”

Frustrated with the lack of action taken, Ms Alexander said she wants something done soon to quell the random damage to her property.

“Stop doing it, stop being such a coward,” she warned the offender.

Police have released images of a man they believe may be able to assist them with their inquiries.

Originally published as ‘Coward’: Masked man behind letterbox explosions target of police investigation