COQUITLAM (NEWS 1130) – The discovery of an inert grenade in the donation bin at the Value Village on Barnet Highway in Coquitlam this morning led to a temporary evacuation of the area.

Police and crews were called out at about 10 a.m. after getting reports of a suspicious device.

“It’s hard to say why it was in the donation bin or how it got there. We’re going to do a follow-up investigation at the scene to determine if we can locate its owner,” says Constable Jamie Phillipson.

He says it’s better to call police if you find make a find like this, rather than taking it to a thrift store. “If it’s an inert device you can contact your local police department and if it’s safe to do so, we can come and collect it from you. In this situation, this could have been an accidental disposal.”

Yesterday, the Sumas border in Abbotsford was temporarily closed after agents found an inert grenade in a vehicle heading north into Canada.