Woman who left ‘suspicious device’ in Concord convenience store in custody, police say

A woman who police say left a “suspicious device” in a Concord convenience store Thursday evening has been arrested, according to police.

The Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad has determined that the suitcase she left in the store did not contain explosives, Concord police said in a press release.

Concord firefighters were called to the Dunkin’ at 1641 Sudbury Road for a report of a fire alarm activation shortly before 7:15 p.m., police said. At the coffee shop, firefighters discovered that a woman “maliciously” pulled two of its fire alarms, then left the store.

Soon after, the same woman went next door to Nine Acre Farm convenience store, where she made threatening statements and left a suitcase on the floor, then fled in a car, police said. At the time, both the convenience store and the Dunkin were closed to customers.

• Read more: Part of Concord evacuated after woman leaves ‘suspicious device’ at convenience store

After police were called to the convenience store, they evacuated all businesses within 300 feet as a precaution, police said. The state police bomb squad then evaluated the suitcase while Concord police searched for the woman.

A short time later, investigators discovered that the woman had run from her car after it crashed on South Great Road in Lincoln, police said. Concord, Lincoln and State Police then searched the area and found her in a nearby wooded area.

The woman is now in police custody, but authorities are not releasing her identity until they have criminally charged her, police said. The incident remains under investigation by Concord police.