Retaliatory Mailbox Bashing

A Wilkes woman says her mailbox was damaged Tuesday afternoon -- not randomly , as so many seem to be, but she thinks as an act of retaliation. Mary Cruz had reported Monday her house had been broken into, but the thief had not apparently taken anything. Deputies made contact with the teen believed to have committed the crime, who attends West Wilkes Middle School and is about 14 years old. The student stayed home from school Tuesday, and sometime during the first part of the day, the mailbox damage appeared. So far, no charges have been filed in either case.