Bomb Squad Called After Training Grenade Found At Goodwill

ROUND LAKE BEACH, IL — Authorities in Round Lake Beach evacuated a Goodwill store for a short time over the weekend after a worker discovered what appeared to be a grenade among the donated items.

An investigation into the incident, which was reported at about 2:30 p.m. Saturday, revealed the item was a "training grenade," which are usually hollowed out and not active grenades that can be purchased over the internet, according to a news release from the Round Lake Beach Police Department. The item was found among hundreds of items recently donated to the store, which is located at 2051 N. Route 83 in Round Lake Beach.

A small plug had been placed into the hollowed out section of the grenade, which officers were concerned about. This led to local police calling in the Waukegan Bomb Squad and evacuating the store, according to the news release.

The Waukegan Bomb Squad took possession of the device and used an X-Ray machine to determine the grenade was not active. Authorities said the public was never in any type of danger.

Authorities are still looking into how the item ended up in a donation pile at Goodwill. They are also urging residents to not donate firearms or diffused explosive devices to businesses like Goodwill.

“People who find or wish to discard these items should contact their local police instead and the policedepartment will assist in the safe removal of these devices if needed," said Round Lake Beach Police Chief Wayne Wilde.

Anyone with information regarding the probe into the donated training grenade is asking to contact Round Lake Police at (847) 546-2127.