Citizen shares news to inform others
A Camas police officer knocked on Julie Bonaci Scordino’s front door at about 10 a.m. Sunday morning. The officer had a delivery for the Camas resident.
“Guess what was delivered to me by the Camas Police just now … all three of our election ballots!” stated Scordino. “They were found dumped (along with many others from our community) at a local park. I watched the officer go door-to-door around my neighborhood hand delivering our rain soaked ballots.”
The three ballots the Camas police officer handed to Scordino had been found by another citizen at Klickitat Park, just over a mile away.
“So you know, that makes me feel really violated,’’ Scordino said. “Somebody stole my ballot, and whether it was intentional or not, that, first of all, they shouldn’t be stealing my mail.”
“I think people do need to know that this stuff happens,” she added.
Scordino shared photos on social media, telling her story to alert neighbors.
“I’m pretty upset about it,” she said.
The vandals broke into the front side of the mailbox. It was a community mailbox, serving 10 households.
A neighbor caught an image of the vandals. At about 5:44 a.m., her Ring front door video camera captured an image of a white sedan stopping at the mailbox. A caucasian male got out and very quickly popped the locks on each of the 10 mailboxes. Scordino believed there was a second person acting as driver. The break in was over in about two minutes.
Scordino and her husband took a stroll around the neighborhood later in the day and noticed several other community mailboxes had been broken into by the vandals.
Claire Larsen shared in the social media conversation. “My mailbox was hit as well — luckily we had picked up the mail. What I know for certain is that when police were called in, the response was that this has happened frequently over the past few months or more between Vancouver and Camas and beyond.
“It appears to be the same group of people who have been caught this time on camera doing it,” said Larsen. “Very likely they aren’t looking for ballots but for financial information. That’s why the ballots and other random mail are being dumped. I did hear that there is an effort to return all ballots that are found to the individuals.”
The Camas Police Department reported that nine ballots were found during their investigation and returned to the owners. Officers found four community style mail boxes had been pried open and some mail stolen from each one. The investigation is ongoing.
Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey became aware of what happened and posted the following on social media. “My understanding this was the result of someone breaking into a mailbox. It’s unfortunate, but it does occur. My neighborhood mailbox ‘cluster’ was broken into about two weeks ago.
“Voters who don’t receive their ballot by this Wednesday should call the Elections Office at 564-397-2345,” said Kimsey. “Returning your voted ballot early will give you more time to confirm it was received by the Elections Office, you can do that at www.VoteWA.gov or calling the Elections Office at 564-396-2345.”
Scordino noticed the police officer stop at a couple other homes in her neighborhood, supposedly returning ballots and mail. She was very grateful and appreciative of the effort of the Camas police.
This will be the first time voting in the general election for her 19-year-old daughter. The story of the stolen ballots will certainly make it memorable, said Scordino.
