Police, navy called in after Vancouver Island thrift store receives fake explosive device
A thrift store in Sidney on Vancouver Island was evacuated Saturday and explosives experts were called in after a “possible historical military explosive device” was donated to the shop.
It proved to be a false alarm.
The Sidney North Saanich detachment of the RCMP responded to reports of the item at the store, located on Fourth Street near Oakville Avenue, around 2:30 p.m. Mounties then reached out to the navy.
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“Navy explosive experts attended the scene at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 10, 2024, and determined the device to be a fake,” police said in a news release.
“The RCMP would like to thank the Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt for its assistance with this matter and the public for their patience.”
Police had originally issued a news release about the device Saturday around 5 p.m, saying police had evacuated and contained the area while they awaited help from military ordinance personnel.
They released another notice Sunday morning to say the device was a fake.
The area has now been cleared with no risk to the public, police say.
