(ADAM PROSKIW / iNFOnews.ca)

KELOWNA – The ICBC claims office on Springfield Road was closed for part of Tuesday this week after an employee discovered explosive material inside a stolen vehicle that was parked there.

“A vehicle estimator located what appeared to be an explosive item amongst the contents of a passenger vehicle, towed to their facility and associated to a stolen vehicle claim initiated out of the Lower Mainland,” Cpl. Jesse O'Donaghey says in a media release. “The vehicle had been previously recovered by RCMP in the Central Okanagan.”

An explosive disposal unit was brought in from the Lower Mainland Tuesday evening, Jan. 31, and conducted a risk assessment.

“As a result of that assessment, the explosive disposal unit was confident there was no imminent risk to the public, unless they were in close proximity to the explosive material which was considered more stable than your typical explosive and would have required further components to discharge," O'Donaghey says.

The release does not say what kind of explosive it was but O’Donaghey says the incident serves as an important reminder. 

“Due to the inherent dangers involved in handling explosives and explosive materials, it is imperative that the public do not physically handle a suspected explosive material or item, that they immediately call police and if possible create a safe area around that item,” he says. “RCMP cannot stress enough to the public the importance of leaving suspicious or suspected explosive items where they are found and not transporting them to any police detachment.”

Anyone with any additional information is asked to contact the Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300. Remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, leaving a tip online at www.crimestoppers.net or by texting your tip to CRIMES (274637) ktown.

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