Stop Signs and Mailboxes Vandalized in New Ipswich, New Hampshire

Police are seeking the public's help in locating the suspects

Police in New Ipswich, New Hampshire, are searching for the people responsible for putting bullet holes in traffic signs and mailboxes over the weekend.

"The hole they put through that stop sign that could have killed somebody," said resident Stephen Gnibus.

It's an unsettling sight on the stop sign right across from the New Ipswich home where Gnibus has lived for 40 years.

"The police said it could be a shotgun, a sawed-off shotgun, wow," he said in disbelief.

Police went door to door Monday, trying to get more information about the people who might be responsible for the weekend vandalism.

According to resident Clinton Parhiala, it started early Saturday morning.

"About 2 o'clock, right after I put my lights out, I heard either a gunshot or loud fireworks," Parhiala said.

The use of weapons isn't the only concern.

The spray-painted "FTP" on the stop signs is an acronym for an anti-police message often used by protesters.

"This to me looks like kids being kids and a stop sign kind of represents authority," said Parhiala.

Residents admit they've seen their share of mischief in town, from stolen street signs to tire fires, but they say things are getting too dangerous when they wake up to find bullet holes in private property.

"The slug is at an angle that goes off into the woods, that was a little reckless," Parhiala said. "But stupid kids are stupid kids, they probably came from stupid parents."

If you know anything, call police.

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