Investigators say the men, in their early 20s, planted fireworks inside three mailboxes in Elmont early Monday.
The first was at 2:05 a.m. on Hunnewell Avenue. The owner told police he heard an explosion outside his house and discovered that his detached mailbox had been destroyed along with the mail inside.
Police say a large U.S. Postal mailbox was damaged on the corner of Madison and Cross streets around 5 a.m.
Another residential mailbox was damaged on Clement Avenue.
The suspects were identified as Daniel Aviles, Jacob Guerrero III and John Pinzon.
All three defendants have been charged with criminal mischief.
The three suspects and a fourth man were arrested after a brief police pursuit.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report)
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