A suitcase left by outside the Egg Harbor Township Municipal Building on Monday afternoon sparked a call to the Atlantic City Bomb Squad.
Police received a call from the administrative side of the building just before 1 p.m. about a suitcase outside their door on the curb line, Capt. Cherie Burgan said.
It is not normal for a suitcase to be left at the building at any time, she said. But it was more concerning since it was the day before Election Day and left in the area of the mail-in ballot box in front of the Tax Office.
A member of the Atlantic City Bomb Squad responded, X-rayed the travel-sized suitcase and determined that it was not a threat, Burgan said.
The suitcase was opened, and a child's belongings were found inside.
Video led to the belief that the suitcase was left behind by a family during a child custody exchange.
"We would like to thank the Atlantic City Bomb Squad for their assistance in rendering the package safe," Burgan said. "We would also like to thank the members of the public who attempted to stop by our building today to pay taxes and conduct other business while we were ensuring that all was safe."
The incident closed the administrative offices for less than an hour, "but we understand that it is sometimes difficult to carve out time to take care of important personal business with the town," she said.
Video showed the child exchange and also that the suitcase was then moved closer to the ballot box, indicating that it was not intentionally placed there.
Police remind residents that if they see something, say something.
