Police: Caller said he planted bombs at K-Mart, Wal-Mart in Brick Wednesday

     Image courtesy of the Ocean County Sheriff's Department.

    Image courtesy of the Ocean County Sheriff's Department.

    A caller threatened to blow up big box stores in Brick if he didn’t receive cash cards early Wednesday evening, police say.

    Police were dispatched to the K-Mart store at 1930 Route 88 in Brick around 6 p.m. for a report of a bomb threat, according to Sgt. Henry J. Drew, Public Information Officer for the Brick Township Police Department.

    Upon arrival, store management told police that a male caller said he planted several bombs throughout the store, demanding money to be sent to him in the form of Green Dot cash cards, Drew said. The manager also told police that the K-Mart store in Wall had also received a similar threat.

    At the same time, police were notified of another bomb threat in the township at the Wal-Mart store at 1872 Route 88, with the caller threatening to blow up the store if not transferred the cash cards, according to Drew. 

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    Both stores was evacuated of all patrons and staff and checked by K-9 units for explosives with negative results, Drew said.

    JSHN contributors reported a hectic scene at both locations. A similar incident occurred at the same time in Saddle Brook, Bergen County. 

    Several agencies assisted with the search and investigation at both locations, including the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, the New Jersey State Police, the New Jersey SPCA, Brick Township Police EMS, and the Laurelton Fire Company. 

    The investigation as to the origination of these calls is ongoing, Drew said.

    Anyone who may have some information is asked to call Detective Kenneth Steinberg in the Brick Township Police Detective Bureau at (732) 262-1113 or the department directly at (732) 262-1100.

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