Crime & Safety

Los Gatos Police Find Korean War-Era Hand Grenade

Military weapon is deemed inert with the assistance of the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Bomb Squad.

A Korean War-era hand grenade was found the afternoon of May 7 in a storage locker on University Avenue by Los Gatos/Monte Sereno police and the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad.  

The approximately 60-year-old weapon, from the military conflict between South and North Korea from June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953, was located in a storage unit, said Los Gatos/Monte Sereno police Sgt. spokesman Clint Tada.  

The grenade’s owner was a man who had died and had left the weapon, along with other personal belongings, in the storage unit, Sgt. Tada explained. 

Police found it after his relatives were cleaning out the property from the storage shed and had notified authorities after finding it, he said.  

Local police called on the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad to determine if the grenade was inert or live. Upon examination, it was determined to be inoperable, or hollowed out, Sgt. Tada added.  

The grenade was turned over to the SCCSO Bomb Squad, he said. 

It’s unknown how long the man had rented the storage space, Sgt. Tada said.


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