The Shops at Mission Viejo were on lockdown for about an hour after someone reported seeing a man with a rifle in the parking lot Monday afternoon, but turns out, it was actually a plumber with a plunger, deputies said.

It was just about 5:30 p.m., when deputies were called by someone saying there was an armed man in the shopping center’s parking lot.

Deputies put the mall and parking lot on lockdown so they could investigate, Lt. Nathan Wilson said. Patrons were kept inside the mall and others away from the lot.

“It was a plumber with a plunger in a bag,” Wilson said.

The area was re-opened. No arrests were made.

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