Exclusive surveillance video obtained by News 12 Connecticut shows what officials say are five vandals breaking into the mailbox station at Trumbull Gardens on Thursday, then causing thousands of dollars' worth of damage.

"We have now repaired the damaged mailboxes - which belong to the U.S. Postal Service - but it's upsetting to see these individuals going into our mail room, then kicking out the back wall and tossing mail everywhere - in a very disrespectful and destructive way," said Jillian Baldwin, who heads up the Bridgeport Housing Authority.

"We held a community meeting tonight and discussed the incident with our residents, whom we hope will join with us in demanding accountability from the young people who caused this very expensive damage," Baldwin said.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said the mail stoppage "drove people nuts."

"Just imagine not being able to get your most critical documents - from paychecks to medical records - for the better part of a week," the resident said. "It was bad and we were mad."

Baldwin said police are investigating "what is a serious federal crime - the destruction of government property and the tampering of the U.S. mail."

Anyone who can help police identify the vandals is asked to call 203-576-TIPS.