A man set off a smoke bomb inside a mall jewelry store in Salem, NH.
He entered the store on the first floor of the Mall at Rockingham Park and asked about jewelry, according to a press release that the Salem Police Department posted to Facebook. The incident happened at about 6 p.m. on Jan. 5.
“The store owner concerned about the suspicious nature and actions of the male subject while in the store, refused to remove any jewelry from cases,” police stated. “At some point while near the registers, the male knelt down and set off a smoke bomb device. The owner of the store ran around the counter, grabbed the device and tossed it into the main mall area. The suspect stood by for several moments before running away.”
Scroll down to see video of the incident.
The mall was evacuated. No injuries were reported, but the incident caused damage to both the store and the mall.
While fleeing, the suspect discarded a bag as well as other clothing items. The Nashua Police Department’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit examined the bag and found “additional devices and powder,” according to the release. The suspect was described as being in his late 30s, approximately 6 feet in height. He reportedly spoke both English and Spanish.
Police did not reveal the name of the store, and there’s no word on whether any jewelry was taken.
