Crime & Safety

Pipe Bomb Forces the Evacuation of Hundreds at Redlands Shopping Center

The device was safely disposed off but not before it shut down at least seven businesses for several hours.

A pipe bomb found under a vehicle at a Redlands commercial center forced authorities to evacuate of hundreds of shoppers while they exploded the device.

A woman who had been shopping in the center called authorities about 1 p.m. today to report a suspicious item under her Ford Flex. She had been parked in the center on the northwest corner of Lugonia Avenue and Alabama Street across from Citrus Plaza, according to Redlands City spokesman Carl Baker.

Redlands officers called in the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s bomb squad. Officials confirmed it was a pipe bomb.

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Officers evacuated JC Penny, Fantastic Sam’s, EuroGrill, Buffet Star, Tekin Brother Jewelers, Payless Shoe Source and Happiness Nails and Spa in the northwest corner of the shopping center.

For safety reasons, roughly 150 parking spaces, were cordoned off for several hours, cutting several hundred people off from access to their vehicles, Baker said.

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Sheriff’s bomb squad officers used a robot to move the device to an open area behind the center. There are large open fields behind the center.

A bomb sniffing dog was brought in the sweep the area which was finally opened about 5 p.m., Baker said. No one was injured and no other devices were found.

Redlands detectives are investigating the incident and no other information was available on the incident.


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