Kamloops RCMP say an old military mortar was decommissioned after it was found in a house on Patricia Avenue on the North Shore.

RCMP Spokesperson Cpl. Crystal Evelyn tells Radio NL it all began after a resident in the house asked police what should be done about the mortar around 7:45 a.m. on Sunday, July 16.

“Frontline officers they consulted with the Explosives Disposal Unit. After that consultation, officers secured the mortar and evacuated the house,” Evelyn said. “There was a little bit of a police presence in that area while they were awaiting the Canadian Forces team to attend the resident and safely remove that explosive.”

Evelyn says its not clear how the mortar – which had become a family heirloom – came to be in the house or how long it was there for.

But she says the owners did the right thing by calling police so that it could be properly disposed of.

“We do hear about these discoveries from time to time,” Evelyn said.

“The best advice is to contact police. Don’t obviously move it or bring it into the detachment but contact police and share as much information as you have and then frontline officers can have those discussions with our experts to figure out the next steps.”