Police Issue Warning About Homemade Plastic Explosives Planted by Troublemakers

A January case resulting in three juvenile arrests for building homemade explosives out of household items has prompted a higher likelihood that more kids might  experiment with the crude bombs, said.

The department issued a public warning on its website and sent a notice to local media May 4 about the threat of explosives made out of household cleaning agents, plastic bottles and tin foil. The warning has been copied and e-mailed to hundreds of people around Novato.

Lt. Rich Hill said the devices are much more serious than a harmless prank.

“They can blow fingers off,” he said. “Are we trying to instill hysteria? No. Is this potential a major issue in Novato? No. But it’s something to keep your eyes open for.”

Novato PD has made no more arrests since three people were detained in January, but the department decided to issue the warning written by Sgt. Dave Bettin because of inquires from parents and more similar incidents around the Bay Area.

Hill said residents should keep an eye out and notify police if they see discarded plastic bottles that are capped and still have liquid inside. The release stated, “When individuals pick it up to throw it in the trash, the ingredients mix and in about 30 seconds or less it explodes with enough force to cause serious bodily injuries. The liquid that comes out is boiling hot as well.”

The three boys — two age 16 and one 15 — to detonating three of the homemade explosives in an open space area off Palmer Drive in Ignacio, police said. The kids were cited and released to their parents.

At the time, Novato police Lt. John McCarthy said parents can help avoid similar situations by keeping a close eye on suspicious activities by their kids.

“These items they use are so readily available and the instructions are found on the Internet, unfortunately,” he said. “Parents need to be diligent in their efforts to keep aware of what their kids are doing. That goes for everything, really.”