Ordnance Is No Diamond in the Rough

Masterton, New Zealand Three businesses were closed following the discovery of a suspect live WWI shell in a jewelry store.

The Wairarapa Police responded to the scene where the shopkeeper found what was described as an old ordnance item while cleaning. Police notified the Army who sent an EOD team to respond.

The item was found to be an inert 18-pound shrapnel ordnance for light artillery. EOD removed the shell for disposal.

Munition Dropped Off AT Military Surplus Store

Newhall, California Multiple business and residents were evacuated after a munition was dropped off at a Commando Military Surplus store. The owner recognized what appeared to be a small cluster bomb and notified authorities. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Arson and Explosive unit was deployed to the scene and determined the device was inert. The munition was removed from the store for proper disposal and residents and businesses were allowed back into the area.

Newhall Munition

Military Ordnance Found in Deceased Man's Tool Shed

Stevensville, Maryland The Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office Bomb Squad was called to a residence where a man cleaning out his father's tool shed found two containers of old military ordnance.

The bomb squad X-rayed the boxes which were found to contain a 60 mm shell and a WWII era Mark II grenade hand grenade. The items appeared to be inert but were removed anyway for safe disposal.

"Ditching" Ordnance - Not the Best Idea

Shuswap, Canada Royal Canadian Navy EOD at CFB Esquimalt was called in to investigate a potential UXO found lying in a roadside ditch among garbage in Shuswap. A local citizen conducting a clean up of illegally dumped refuse was alarmed to find an ordnance item in the debris.

The EOD unit removed the item which was believed to be an inert tank shell and transported it to a Vernon area National Defense property where it was disposed of.

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Box of WWII Ammo Prompts Sheriff's Department Scare

Prattville, Alabama A man sent a shock wave of fear through the Autauga County Sheriff's Department when he walked in carrying a box of munitions from WWII. He reportedly wanted to get rid of the ordnance which his father had brought home after his military service and figured it was best to drop it off himself.

The munitions, identified as .50 caliber rounds were packed into a plastic tool box and cushioned by a towel. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency was contacted to examine the ordnance. The rounds were carefully placed outside in a secured, fenced in area near the sheriff's office with sand bags secured around them while waiting for the bomb squad to respond.

The rounds were safely removed off-site for proper disposal by the public safety bomb squad.

Some Homeowners Only Get to Clear Out the Dust bunnies

Frostburg, Maryland A WWII era Japanese mortar was removed from a Maryland residence after the owners discovered the munition while cleaning. According to the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office who responded to the scene, the type 100 mortar was inert.

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Munition Collection Blown Up in Owner's Front Yard

Palo Alto, California A son cleaning out the basement of his deceased father's home, found eight hand grenades and Japanese "knee" mortar. At least one of the munitions was reported to be live.

His father, an airline pilot and retired U.S. Marine, had been a Civil War and WWII history buff with an extensive collections of war memorabilia. His ex-wife was unaware that live UXO was being stored in the home, however.

The local bomb squad responded to the call and buried all of the devices in the front yard of the residence, covered them with 40 sandbags and blew them up after advising the neighbors to stay indoors.

Munition Found In Garden Shed

Henley, United Kingdom A Bomb disposal team was called to a residential house for reports of a munition item in a garden shed on the property. The munition, described as approximately 20 inches long and 6 inches in diameter, had reportedly been in the a shed for close to 30 years according to the owner of the house.

The residents were clearing out the shed when they discovered the shell. They took a picture of the ordnance and sent it to a friend who is in the Army. The friend recommended calling for help due the fact that the fuze appeared to be intact.

Police responded with a bomb squad to remove the shell identified as a WW I era projectile. After evacuating neighbors in the immediate area, the munition was relocated for safe disposal off-site.

Donation Bin At Thrift Store Sparks EOD Response

Salt Lake City, Utah a man sorting through a pile of scrap in a recycling bin at the Desert Industries Thrift Store found more than just scrap metal when he found a mortar round mixed in with the scrap. The man notified management who in turn called the police.

Police responded with technical support provided by the Air Force EOD unit based out of Hill AFB. EOD identified the 60mm mortar round as an inert training item missing the tail fins. EOD took possession of the mortar for proper disposal. The item reportedly had an inert sticker on it which was only partially visible due to wear and age.

Contractors Discover Tank Rounds in Ohio Home

Dayton, Ohio Bomb squads from the Dayton Police Department and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base were called to remove ordnance items found by a contractor installing insulation in a Dayton home.

The two 75 mm tank rounds, believed to be from the 1950s, were deemed potentially dangerous and safely removed and detonated. There is no word about how the UXO ended up in the home or how long it had been there.

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