Did you hear the boom this morning? As Upton Town Hall moves forward with the renovations they discovered the vaults were equipped with an anti-theft device. Police Chief Bradley said in an email, “This device was commonly used in the 1920’s and 30’s. The device consists of a metal box containing a cartridge type charge that is spring loaded, tampering with the device would trip the cartridge and release a chemical irritant that would be either Cholorpicrin or Tear Gas.”
Upton Fire Chief Goodale felt it was best to call in the Massachusestts State Police Bomb Squad to detonate the devices. The devices were removed from the vaults and taken to the Department of Public Works this morning. According to Town Manager Blythe Robinson, it was recommended by Fire Chief Goodale to detonate the devices at the DPW property as it is a good distance from any homes and in a secluded area of town.
The devices were picked up at the Town Hall this morning by the Massachusetts State Bomb Squad and detonated safely behind the Department of Public Works. According to Town Manager Robinson two of the vaults were purchased, another vault will continue to be used by the Town and is perfectly secure without the trip device. It still locks and would be quite difficult to move; in addition the Town Hall has other security measures in place.
UPTON DAILY 