The suspect fled the scene after ringing the doorbell and leaving a device that resembled a bomb on the porch. Credit: NYPD
Police are searching for a suspect who left a fake bomb on the doorstep of a Brooklyn home early Wednesday, forcing some residents to evacuate their homes.
A propane tank with a number pad and wires protruding from it was left on the porch of a private residence in Bay Ridge just after midnight, cops said. The suspect rang the doorbell and left the scene before the homeowner came to the door. The bomb squad eventually determined that the device was not active and deemed it a hoax.
The homeowner is a retired city firefighter who responded during the World Trade Center attacks, The Daily News reports.He lives at the home with his wife and two adult children.
The hoax comes at a time when the police department is already on high alert and dealing with a large number of suspicious package reports following the deadly Boston Marathon bombing Monday.
The police department released a photo of the suspect taken from a surveillance video that shows the man fleeing the scene. He is being described as a white male, last seen wearing dark clothing.
