A thrift store in Chatham, Ontario, had to close down temporarily due to the discovery of a Second World War grenade among the donated items, according to police reports. The incident led to the closure of the Value Village store located at 80 Keil Drive South for public safety reasons after authorities were alerted around 11 a.m. through social media.
Later that day, law enforcement responded to a call regarding a potential explosive device that had been dropped off as part of a donation. The item was later identified as a historical grenade from the Second World War, prompting the evacuation of the store as a safety measure.
In a statement released by the police on Thursday evening, it was confirmed that the Canadian Armed Forces were called in to safely retrieve and dispose of the grenade following military protocols. Authorities assured the public that there was no ongoing risk associated with the incident.
As a precautionary measure, police advised the public to be cautious when decluttering and donating old items, specifically items that may pose a risk such as weapons, ammunition, or explosive devices.