Bottlebomb goes off in Glouco freeholder's mailbox

"I don't know if someone is trying to send me a message or intimidate me."

The explosion did not cause a fire, but bottle bombs "can cause injuries or death to persons in the immediate area," the county Prosecutor's Office said.

Wallace, 50, said his wife, Debi, discovered the damage. The couple's daughters, 13 and 15, were home at the time and often retrieve the family's mail, he said.

The exact time of the detonation has not been established, authorities said.

Township Police Chief Russell Marino said he believed the bomb may have been a prank. No similar explosions have been reported in the township recently, the Prosecutor's Office said.

Bottle bombs can be made from volatile household chemicals, which, when shaken together in a closed container, create a pressurized gas that results in an explosion, officials said.

Authorities found a piece of tinfoil in the bottle, according to Wallace.

The debris was collected by a Prosecutor's Office detective who is part of the regional bomb squad. The Woolwich department is investigating.

Contact Darran Simon at 856-779-3829, or at dsimon@phillynews.com or reach on Twitter @darransimon.