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Police: Suspected bomb turns out to be potato chip can

Merrionette Park police Sgt. Jon Bruce said the device was not an explosive but was made to look like one

By Howard Ludwig
Daily Southtown

CHICAGO — What police suspected was a pipe bomb instead was a potato chip can at a cigarette shop Wednesday in suburban Chicago, police said.

Merrionette Park police Sgt. Jon Bruce said the device was not an explosive — but was made to look like one.

A Cook County sheriff’s department officer detonated the fake bomb at 7:30 p.m. near Tobacco City, 3281 115th St. in Merrionette Park.

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Police said two teens had tossed the can inside the store at 5:36 p.m.

A store worker later kicked the can outside the shop.

Police and fire personnel from the county, Chicago and Merrionette Park surrounded the store after receiving a report about a possible pipe bomb at Stonebrook Plaza shopping center, officials said.

Customers at nearby shops said they were asked by police to evacuate the plaza.

©2018 Chicago Tribune