BEATRICE -- The Nebraska State Patrol Bomb Squad and members of the Nebraska Air National Guard’s 155th EOD unit responded to a report of numerous World War Two-era munitions at a home in Beatrice.

The response to the incident came last week, on Thursday.

The Beatrice Police Department reported the munitions after the resident of the home had passed away. Beatrice Police Director Jay Murphy says the items were recovered in the Belvedere area in the south part of the city.

Authorities say there were approximately 40 ordnances located inside the home. After careful examination by the Bomb Squad and EOD unit, all of the ordnance was determined to be inert. Murphy says such findings are pretty rare.

"Most of the time, we have family that will come down and have someone in the residence is going to an assisted living home, or something...family will clean the house out. They'll bring old ammo down or old weapons to use, and want us to take them or destroy them. Most of the time, that's how that comes about."

Murphy says it’s good to assume that there might be danger with such items….which means if you find it…..don’t move it.

"There's been certain times, I'm like....oh...why are you carrying this down here? Most people think that the majority of the things they find are inert, but I think visually that would be kind of tough, especially when you're talking about this kind of old ammo that they had, or weapons."

Murphy said the plan with this batch of shells was to take it to a shooting range north of Beatrice to investigate whether it was live, or inert.

Sergeant Clayton Dishong, Commander of the NSP Bomb Squad said, “Thankfully in this case, none of the items were live munitions, but it’s not safe to assume that…of any potential explosive device you may find.” 
He said anyone coming across any potential explosive device should call 9-1-1 immediately and be careful not to move any of the items.

The Nebraska State Patrol Bomb Squad and ANG 155th EOD unit respond to dozens of situations each year in which old ordnance or potential explosive devices are found by family members cleaning out the belongings of a family member.