Sep 30, 2009
A potentially explosive burglary
If my home were ever burglarized, I think the strangest thing a thief could pilfer would be an 18-inch-tall sailor statue that sits on a side table in my living room. (Old Salty is good at his job; I’ve never gotten seasick nor have I been attacked by pirates while sitting on my sofa.)
I thought about this after I received a press release from Baltimore County police yesterday warning residents that the burglar of a Monkton home took two hand grenades that possibly could explode.
The suspect stole so-called “pineapple” hand grenades commonly used in World War II. Here are the key sentences from the police e-mail:
“The caretaker of the weapons does not remember whether the grenades were disabled or are live. These grenades are DANGEROUS, and can cause injury or death.”
I would have to echo a person who responded to The Sun’s story about the burglary: why did the homeowner have possible live grenades in his home?
I suspect this happens more often than you think. Guys get used to having them in the service, then stuff a couple in their packs when they come home. Happened recently to a guy I know when his son came home from the base he’s stationed at for a weekend. Kind of a dangerous keepsake, if you ask me.