* **Federal Investigation:** The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is working with local police to investigate the explosion. * **Service Disruption:** Residents must retrieve mail from the post office as the cluster box unit (CBU) is completely destroyed. * **Federal Crime:** Destroying a mailbox is a federal offense punishable by fines and prison time. MARICOPA, Ariz. — Residents of a Maricopa neighborhood were shaken by a loud boom Friday as an explosion completely destroyed a cluster of community mailboxes, scattering debris and leaving the metal unit twisted and scorched. According to federal investigators, the explosion did not originate from within the U.S. mail system itself, suggesting an external device was used. The blast rendered the mailboxes unusable, forcing residents to travel to the local post office to retrieve their mail. "It’s absolutely inconvenient now you have to drive to go get your mail and stand in line," said resident Lopez, who heard the explosion. Beyond the inconvenience, neighbors expressed concern about the potential loss of sensitive documents. "It could have been checks, it could have been important documents, mortgage payments, but now it’s all gone," another resident told reporters. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) has launched a joint investigation with local police. They are also coordinating with the homeowners’ association to replace the destroyed unit. Postal inspectors remind the public that damaging a mailbox is a federal crime that can carry serious prison time and heavy fines, especially when explosives are involved.