Updated January 7, 2011: Copycat? On January 6, 2011 in Maryland, two packages, similarly posted with holiday stamps were mailed by a disgruntled person. Those packages contained incendiary devices.

La Habra Heights, CA - What at first seemed odd, took a turn, as at least two local news editors received identical anonymous packages in the week leading to Christmas.

Enclosed in the packages sent to the editor of www.TheAvocadoExpress.com and www.LaHabraHeights.net were books entitled, "Your Friend the Rat".

The book "Your Friend the Rat" and the selected page and underlines appear to send a message that rats are good, when most find them destructive and carriers of disease. Doctor’s recommend eliminating the presence of rats and their droppings since they pose a hazard to children and pets.

A couple of weeks prior to the arrival of the packages, the long-time Improvement Association Boss (identity withheld) called the editor of LaHabraHeights.net accusing him of running the website www.boycottlhhia.blogspot.com which is untrue.
The Boycott LHHIA site features news stories of wrongdoing by the La Habra Heights Improvement Association, video of Association members attacking a non-member resident, and cartoons featuring rats; calling on residents to boycott the Association and their advertisers.
The Boycott Site appears to take news articles and pictures from legitimate news sites and alter the pictures to lampoon the Improvement Association and their politics.

Investigators suspect the mailing could have come from the secretive extremist group known as the IA, however no claim of responsibility for the anonymous mailing has yet been made.

EOM