Family Finds UXO While Dad Gets Out the Wire Brush

Berowra Heights, Australia A family who recently purchased an older five bedroom home were in the process of renovated their new home when they came across an old munition item in the garage under a dusty workbench. Initially, the family considered reporting the find to police but reportedly did not do so right away due to concerns that the report may cause an evacuation/interruption of a nearby elementary school. So the family kept the munition in the garage for ten days until the school was on break before calling police. During that time, the family reportedly posed for several photos with the munition and the father even tried to clean the rust off of the munitions with a wire brush.

When the family finally called the police, they responded and evacuated a dozen homes. The bomb disposal technicians identified the round as a WWI era live mortar shell. The bomb disposal unit safely removed the item from the item and properly disposed of the hazard.