That\u2019s an explosive find.<\/p>\n
A Texas man found live World War II-era grenades inside a box he bought at an estate sale, prompting police to send in the bomb squad.<\/p>\n
The Austin Police Department said it got the \u201cunusual call\u201d Monday after the man was rummaging through boxes he had bought and noticed one contained the handheld explosives.<\/p>\n
A Texas man found live World War II-era grenades inside a box he bought at an estate sale. Austin Police Association<\/p>\n
\u201cOur patrol officers, who quickly secured the scene, set up a perimeter, and kept neighbors safe while they waited for EOD [Explosive Ordnance Disposal],\u201d the department wrote on Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n The bomb squad confirmed the grenades were \u201clive and active.\u201d<\/p>\n A photo shared by police shows at least three loose US Mk 2 fragmentation grenades in the box, known as \u201cpineapples\u201d because of their shape and grooved cast-iron bodies.<\/p>\n The Mk 2 was the US military\u2019s standard-issue fragmentation grenade from World War II through the Korean War and into the Vietnam War.<\/p>\n The box also appeared to hold shipping tubes and containers, including one marked for an M21 practice grenade.<\/p>\n The bomb squad safely removed the devices, police said.<\/p>\n Austin Police Department\u2019s Bomb Squad safely removed the grenades. Austin Police Association<\/p>\n An Austin Police Department spokesperson told Chron<\/a> that six grenades were recovered in all, each appearing to date to World War II and in good condition for its age.<\/p>\n \u201cBomb Squad personnel assessed the devices, including X-ray examination. Based on their interpretation of the X-ray images, the grenades appeared to be live and were treated accordingly,\u201d the spokesperson told the outlet.<\/p>\n The department said the bomb squad \u201csubsequently conducted render-safe procedures to eliminate any potential hazards,\u201d and that there is no ongoing investigation.<\/p>\n Police said the explosives appeared to be in good condition for its age. Austin Police Association<\/p>\n \u201cA big shoutout to our APD Bomb Squad. These officers bring a level of training, expertise, and steady nerves that most people never see,\u201d the department wrote on Instagram.<\/p>\n \u201cHandling 80-year-old explosives with unknown stability is dangerous, precise work, and they do it with the professionalism this city counts on.\u201d<\/p>\n Police noted that \u201cno crime\u201d was committed but urged the public to call them if they ever find themselves in a similar situation.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you ever come across old military ordnance (grenades, shells, mortar rounds, etc.), even if you think it\u2019s inert, don\u2019t touch it, don\u2019t move it, and call 911. Let the experts handle it,\u201d the department said.<\/p>\n Police clarified that \u201cno crime\u201d was committed. Austin Police Association<\/p>\n While the man who bought the box was not charged with any crime, it\u2019s still illegal to own hand grenades and other explosive devices classified as prohibited weapons in Texas.<\/p>\n Unlawfully possessing an explosive weapon such as a grenade is a third-degree felony that carries 2 to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000, under Texas Penal Code Section 46.05<\/a>.<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t the first time an unlucky buyer has stumbled upon live grenades while secondhand shopping.<\/p>\n