Dead man booby-trapped his home

Last updated 10:48 03/03/2010

Police have finished making safe up to 50 suspected bombs booby-trapped at a dead pensioner's home in southern Sydney.

The devices were discovered throughout the home, inside a car on the driveway and on a gas meter.

The one in the car consisted of a pressure switch on the front seat connected to canisters and wires, police said.

But none of the devices were found to contain active explosives, police said.

Bomb squad officers spent most of yesterday at the property in Meagher Avenue, Maroubra South, after a neighbour raised the alarm.

Further investigation revealed the 69-year-old man, who lived at the property, died in hospital more than a week ago.

It is understood he was an electrician and a known recluse.

Friends of the man visited his home early yesterday and alerted police to several suspicious devices in and around the house.

Emergency services evacuated neighbours while the bomb squad officers did their work.

"Six devices were rendered safe through the detonation of small charges, which were attached to the suspicious devices by bomb disposal robots," a police statement said.

"The device in the vehicle was one of the devices detonated.

"Examinations found that none of the suspicious devices contained active explosives."

The operation ended at 2.30am today and police thanked neighbours for their patience.

From: http://www.stuff.co.nz/oddstuff/3398468/Dead-man-booby-trapped-his-home