With reports of 13 mailboxes being smashed in the city sometime Wednesday morning, close to 50 mailboxes have been destroyed in Halifax County.

Captain Andy Jackson of the Roanoke Rapids Police Department and Lieutenant Bobby Martin of the Halifax County Sheriff's Office believe the crimes are related.

Jackson said 13 mailboxes were damaged in the Old Farm Road area,  11 in the Rollingwood Road area. The other two were on Old Farm Road.

Some of the boxes were obliterated.

Reports indicate people in the neighborhood hearing young voices and a car taking off between 1:30 a.m. and 2 a.m. Wednesday.

Another report said a loud noise was heard around the same time.

Destroying properly placed and erected mailboxes is a federal offense punishable up to three years in prison, Jackson said.

Meanwhile, Martin said close to 50 mailboxes could have been damaged or destroyed along the Highway 301 and Highway 125 area.

Originally it was thought to be 20 but as reports began trickling in it is now thought to be more than that. Some people did not file official reports but just wanted authorities to be aware of the crime.

It appears the vandalism began in the Highway 301 area of Halifax and continued to Weldon and then looped around to Highway 125.

Martin said mailboxes were damaged, some knocked off their poles and some left leaning. Trash cans were also dumped, he said.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the sheriff's office at 252-583-8201, the police department at 252-533-2810  or Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444.