Pipe Bomb Discovered in Bank Parking Lot

A pipe bomb found in a bank parking lot Monday morning caused sheriff’s deputies to shut down Western Avenue in Rancho Palos Verdes for nearly three hours until the bomb was deactivated, authorities said.

The county Sheriff’s Department’s arson and explosives unit was called in after an employee at Bay Cities National Bank reported that he saw a pipe bomb in the dirt area of the bank parking lot about 10 a.m., said Sgt. Vic Reyes. Members of the unit found a 12-inch device that made of galvanized steel. Reyes said the fuse had not been lit and the bomb was rendered inactive.

Employees from the bank and businesses on Western Avenue between Caddington Drive and Trudie Drive were evacuated. Traffic was diverted from the area until about 1 p.m.

Reyes said the pipe bomb was the second live explosive device found in the peninsula area in recent months. He said a pipe bomb exploded in Lomita about two months ago and damaged several parked cars. Reyes said it is unclear whether the two incidents were related.