Caller Claims Bomb at Freehold Mall, Marks Second Scare In 3 Days

FREEHOLD, NJ –Two calls claiming there was a bomb at Freehold Raceway Mall were made to local police over the long weekend, according to the Freehold Police Department. Both incidents are currently under investigation.

A July 3 call made to the Marlboro Police Department non-emergency number at approximately 11 p.m. claimed there was a bomb at Freehold Raceway Mall. Officials say the anonymous caller sounded like a male child over the phone and later identified himself as 9 years old.

A Marlboro Township officer and a Middletown Township K-9 conducted a sweep of the interior for explosives while multiple patrol units searched the parking lot and perimeter on Friday night. All searches yielded negative results, according to officials. Mall security staff also reported that no other individuals except for mall personnel had been observed at the shopping complex after 9 p.m.

A similar call on Sunday made to the Marlboro Township Police Department at 7:34 p.m. also reported a similar threat located at the Freehold Raceway Mall. The caller was again described as a juvenile male.

K-9 units from New Jersey State Police, New Jersey State Park Police Explosives, Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, Marlboro Township, Middletown Township and Point Pleasant responded to the scene. Sweeps of the perimeter, parking lot and interior were conducted and found no explosives or suspicious items.

Freehold Emergency Medical Services, as well as fire departments from Freehold Township and Freehold Borough, were requested to be at the scene in the AMC Movie Theatre parking lot.

A suspect description is unavailable at this time.

Anyone with relevant information regarding the incidents is requested to contact Det. William Ketelaar at the Freehold Township Police Department (732) 294-2110 ext. 5144 or Marlboro Township Police at (732) 536-0100.