Newspaper Carrier Discovers Bomb Under Customer’s Car

A newspaper carrier on bill collection rounds Saturday morning alerted authorities to a live pipe bomb that had been placed under a customer’s car.

The crudely constructed device, believed to be a prank, was removed without incident shortly after noon from an address on Acacia Tree Lane by members of the Orange County Bomb Squad.

Don Richardson, whose car was the apparent target of the bomb, credited Los Angeles Times carrier Richard Welmers with discovering the device.

“I just want to praise this young man,” Richardson said.

Richardson said the bomb, about five inches long, had been placed under the fuel tank of the vehicle parked outside his townhome. Police told him the pipe contained a black powder substance and there was a fuse hole drilled in the center.

“They (the bomb squad) came, picked it up and took it away,” said Irvine Police Sgt. Scott Cade. “It appeared to be a real device. It was of amateurish style and design, but it was real.”

It was not known when the bomb was placed under the car.

“The first question police asked me was if there was anybody who had something against me,” Richardson said. “I don’t have a problem with anyone. That’s a malicious kind of a prank.”