Don’t go to your local RCMP detachment with explosives

KAMLOOPS – After someone turned in explosives to the Kamloops RCMP detachment, police are reminding residents it's not the safest thing to do.

Kamloops RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jodi Shelkie says in a news release a resident recently brought in some blasting caps that they no longer wanted. Blasting caps are small, sensitive primary explosive devices generally used as a detonator.

Shelkie says it wasn't known what state the explosives were in and the situation could have been dangerous.

"Police understand that most citizens are well meaning and do not want to bother the police with attending their residences to pick up the explosive," Shelkie says in the release. "But for the safety of the public, employees and officers at the police detachment, call your local RCMP detachment and police officers will come and safely take away explosives you have."

Shelkie says people can have explosives in their homes for months or years before deciding to give them up. These people believe that because the devices have been safely stored, it's safe for them to pack them up, drive to their local detachment, and hand them over the front counter.

But Shelkie says explosives can change over time due to different environmental factors in your home or storage area.

"Often it only takes small movements to trigger an ordnance and that could have serious consequences," Shelkie says.

As for the explosives that were turned into the Kamloops RCMP detachment, they were secured safely.

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