The Massachusetts State Police bomb squad was called in Sunday afternoon to deal with a suspicious device in Seekonk, a state police spokesman said Sunday night.
Channel 10 WJAR's website reported that the incident, at a gas station at Fall River Road and County Street, had initially involved someone stealing a woman's purse and then fleeing.
Massachusetts State Trooper Dustin Fitch said Sunday night that it looked as though whoever had carried out the reported armed robbery left behind the suspicious device. At around 4 p.m., he said, the state police were requested to assist Seekonk police and sent a police dog unit as well.
Fitch said it appeared to be some sort of hoax device, and there were no injuries.
The Seekonk police told The Journal Sunday night that a news release was expected to be sent out Monday morning.
The Massachusetts State Fire Marshal's office, which has bomb squad personnel assigned to it, was also involved.
A Channel 12 WPRI report online said multiple cities and towns were participating in a search "for a suspect or suspects." The report said local residents were evacuated while the item was successfully dealt with.