Only on 10: Providence post office evacuates following bomb scare

A post office in Providence was evacuated Thursday after a package was found inside that was ticking, according to police.

Providence police and the bomb squad responded to the post office branch at 820 Elmwood Avenue.

Police soon realized there were no explosives inside, but it was from a Providence resident who was sick of having his packages stolen off his porch.

"We [found] that package to be a tin can that was ticking somewhat loudly and it's been sealed off on a loading dock," said Providence police chief, Col. Hugh Clements.

The citizen did not want to be identified for this story, but police said he had reported several packages stolen including, most recently, the day before the incident.

He put a gag, or bait, package out on his porch so if a porch pirate took it, he/she would hear the ticking and think it was about to explode. This is a method of deterring porch piracy that is becoming more prevalent across the country.

The mail carrier for the resident’s neighborhood took the package, thinking it was left to be mailed out. The postal worker brought it to the post office where it was discovered.

Providence police do not expect to file any charges stemming from the incident, but do not advise that anyone put anything that could be mistaken as an explosive on their property or in the mail.