July 16 (UPI) — The Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety in northern California said a police and fire headquarters were evacuated after a couple brought in a box containing ammunition and three rocket-propelled grenades from the World War II era.
An unidentified man and woman had found three rockets and grenades in a parent’s garage and asked authorities from the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety to dispose of them around 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
The 15-20 employees in the building were evacuated and the bomb squad from the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office was called in. Sunnyvale 911 services were moved to County Communications.
X-rays determined there were no explosive materials inside the grenades. They were disassembled and disposed of.
The headquarters reopened at 3 p.m.
The devices were apparently rounds from a so-called U.S. Army M1 “Bazooka” — considered one of the first rocket launching weapons. They were used in anti-tank warfare, and against machine gun nests and bunkers.
“The citizens who brought them in had good intentions,” the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety posted on its Facebook page. “However, if you happen to ever come across any explosives, please do not touch them of attempt to transport them anywhere. Call 911 immediately.”
The unidentified man and woman are not facing any charges, police said.
Sunnyvale has a population of 140,000 people.
