A blue U.S. Postal Service mailbox in Phoenix, Arizona, was set on fire at approximately 1:20 a.m. local time Thursday morning, damaging approximately 20 ballots and other pieces of mail, according to the Phoenix Fire Department.
The mailbox was a drive-up collection box for mail at the Post Office at 3905 North 7th Avenue, according to Rob McDade, a spokesman for the Phoenix Fire Department. The fire was extinguished and the area has since been reopened.
McDade said authorities with the fire and police departments are investigating the incident and that the Postal Inspector took possession of the damaged mail. The authorities have yet to identify a motive.
Federal authorities have warned in the lead-up to Election Day that ballots could be intentionally damaged in transit.
Surveillance footage was collected by investigators, added Rob Scherer, a spokesman for the Phoenix Police Department.
Brandy Zadrozny contributed.
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