Possible WWII rocket found in Antioch yard

ANTIOCH, Ill. - An Antioch woman made a shocking discovery in her backyard, and on Thursday morning, it led to the bomb squad responding to her residence.

Lake County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the 25000 block of West 3rd Street, where officials said the recovered object resembled a World War II-era anti-tank rocket.

"Right here was a little bit of the metal end, it was real pokey, so I thought maybe it was a street sign, old street sign or something," said Lauren Intzekiotis, homeowner.

Intzekiotis said that on Wednesday, as her children were playing outside, she noticed something sharp sticking out of the ground.

When she grabbed her shovel, a decades-old military object was the last thing on her radar.

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"I just pulled it out of the ground and went, ‘oh this is weird.’ Brought it over by my garage, took a couple photos of it, brought my neighbors over and was like, ‘hey guys what’s this?,’" said Intzekiotis.

The object was only about a foot-and-a-half in length, and Intzekiotis said it weighed approximately one or two pounds.

It stayed on her lawn overnight, but after persuading by her own dad, she called the police Thursday.

"Sent a photo to my parents and my dad’s like, ‘yeah, call the police, please.’ And today he’s like, ‘call the police please.’ So I called the police and the sheriffs came and then the bomb squad came," said Intzekiotis.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office said this device which resembles a World War II anti-tank rocket was found in a yard in Antioch Thursday morning.

Officials said it was unclear whether the object was inert or could potentially explode. As a precaution, some residents in the immediate area were asked to evacuate – others, told to stay inside.

"Neighbor Kathy, one who lives here, she came to my house and said stay in your house, it looks like there could be a bomb here or something," said Vicky Zabinski, neighbor.

The Waukegan Bomb Squad was called to the scene, where they secured the item.

"Then I saw them wrap it up in something and carry it away in a big bucket," said Intzekiotis.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office said this device which resembles a World War II anti-tank rocket was found in a yard in Antioch Thursday morning.

Intzekiotis said her only regret is that she wasn't able to keep the item as a souvenir.

"I’m disappointed I didn’t get to keep it because it’s cool! It’s close to home, I know this area used to be farmlands. It’s the most interesting thing I’ve found in the yard," said Intzekiotis.

Another neighbor said that many years ago train tracks ran through the neighborhood, and he theorizes the rocket may have fallen off a train carrying military equipment.

By Thursday afternoon, the bomb squad took the object to an undisclosed location where it was detonated, officials said.

This comes only a few weeks after an Indiana man was killed, and two teenagers were injured when they found a grenade inside a grandparent's belongings, which was accidentally detonated.