Suspicious packages in Hempfield shopping plaza turned out to be false alarm

Paul Peirce
Monday, March 22, 2021 3:07 p.m. | Monday, March 22, 2021 3:07 p.m.

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Courtesy of Anthony Vecchio

Pennsylvania state police and bomb squad responded to a report of a suspcious package outside the Walmart Supercenter at Greengate Centre in Hempfield on Monday.

Courtesy of Anthony Vecchio

Pennsylvania state police and bomb squad responded to a report of a suspcious package outside the Walmart Supercenter at Greengate Centre in Hempfield on Monday.

Courtesy of Anthony Vecchio

Pennsylvania state police and bomb squad responded to a report of a suspcious package outside the Walmart Supercenter at Greengate Centre in Hempfield on Monday.

A report of suspicious packages left Monday in the parking lot outside the Walmart Supercenter in Greengate Centre Plaza in Hempfield turned out to be a false alarm.

State troopers and a bomb squad from Troop A in Greensburg were called just before noon.

Walmart/ Greengate

A concerned citizen called in a suspicious bag resembling luggage in a shopping cart in the parking lot.
We blocked off the area and had PSP field expert examine the bag to determine it was empty.

— Troopers Steve Limani & Cliff Greenfield (@PSPTroopAPIO) March 22, 2021

“Someone left some old luggage in a shopping cart, and we responded to a call about the suspicious package. So we cordoned of the section of the parking lot and checked it out,” said state police spokesman Trooper Stephen Limani. “The store was never closed. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

The parking lot section was reopened by early afternoon, he said.