Grocery store employee finds a replica hand grenade at customer service counter

News 100 redBy Staff

January 10, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

A clerk at the Metro grocery located at Appleby Line and Upper Middle Road in the City of Burlington got a huge surprise when what looked like a hand grenade was found on a counter.

The Halton Regional Police Service are investigating the incident that was reported to police on Saturday January 10, 2015 at 1:35 pm when a store employee at the customer service desk found a replica inert hand grenade on the counter. The employee looked at the item and found that the bottom of the metal item was drilled out and was hollow. The employee took the item to an open area outside of the store.

grenade replica

Replica’s of a hand grenade; they are sold in army surplus stores – you can buy them online. But you don’t leave them on a grocery store counter.

Police services officers attended and examined the item and confirmed that the metal item was not an actual explosive device. The item is designed to look like a World War Two era hand grenade and may have been designed as a replica for training purposes only. In this incident there was no actual threat to public safety as the item is not an actual explosive device.

Police are attempting to determine if the replica item was left in the store intentionally or if it was accidentally left behind by some unknown person. There have been no threats to the store or anyone else at this time and this event is very unusual. The found item will be destroyed at a later time by the police service.

Replica hand grenades of this type can be purchased at military surplus stores and as on line purchases on the internet. Canada Post has placed a ban on mail delivery of these types of items as they cause unnecessary alarm when found in the mail delivery system. Citizens must be mindful that if a replica item of a weapon is used intentionally to cause fear or harm against any other person then it is a criminal offence in Canada.

Public safety is paramount in cases of this nature and citizens finding any items that possibly may be an explosive device are instructed to not touch the item. Move a significant safe distance away from the object and then notify the police via the 911 emergency communication system.

Due to heightened concern over recent world events citizens are asked to be observant and vigilant in reporting suspicious circumstances that may be a threat to public safety.

The Halton Regional Police Service is looking for any information from the public on this matter. Information can be directed to the Burlington- Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905 825-4747 ext. 2316 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com, or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).

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