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Bomb Squad Responds After Suspicious Device Found In Car In Yonkers

YONKERS, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Police in Yonkers are investigating a suspicious device found in a car in an apartment parking lot.

The building at 270 North Broadway was evacuated Wednesday morning when one of the residents got in her car and found what looked like a bomb in the trunk, CBS2's Lou Young reported.

"It appears to be some type of rudimentary explosive device," Yonkers Police Commissioner Charles Gardner said. "She actually was in the vehicle and heard something rattling in the back and stopped and examined it and called police. We secured the area. Bomb technicians have examined it and rendered it safe at this point."

Yonkers police called the Westchester County bomb squad which sent a robot up to the car's trunk to deal with the device.

Video from the scene showed a propane tank being removed from the vehicle. The propane tank was not full and was possibly configured to look like a bomb, Young reported. Police said wires and other components were also found in the trunk.

As a precaution, nearby Palisades Preparatory School was placed in lockdown.

Neighbors worry about what could have been if the device had detonated.

"On a nice day like today it could've hit a lot of people," neighbor Randall Coppin said.

"It's a little bit strange, a little unnerving this early in the morning," said neighbor DeWayne Shinault.

After the initial alarm in the neighborhood, people are watching the police from the distance and relaxing a bit, confident the danger has passed, Young reported.

"Now that it looks like they have things under control here I feel a little safer," neighbor Avery Szafranski said.

Police aren't sure if the device was intended for the woman driving the car.

The investigation is ongoing.

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