Bomb Threats Disrupt Classes At Several New Jersey Schools

TEANECK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- There were more bomb threats Friday at Bergen County high schools, leading to buildings being evacuated and schools being placed on lockdown.

As CBS2's Ilana Gold reported, New Jersey officials have now taken steps to fight the problem – tackling school scares and stopping the prank known as swatting.

The threats Friday morning were received at schools in Teaneck, Hackensack, Mahwah, Bergenfield and Waldwick.

Mahwah Police Chief James Batelli told WCBS 880 that a message left on a voicemail system at one school claimed a bomb would go off in the high school at 10 a.m.

Officers responded with bomb-sniffing dogs and searched the school, which was placed in a modified lockdown.

Police also surrounded and evacuated Teaneck High School after investigators said a computer-generated message was called in talking about a bomb threat and a threat to kill students.

Students could be seen returning to Teaneck High School after the all clear was given.

Late Friday, detectives were calling it all a hoax.

"Whoever's doing this really has to stop. I mean, it ruins our day," said Teaneck student John Campbell. "I have a test right now. We had to walk out of the test. It's a big disruption."

Some parents came to the schools early and pulled their students out.

"My child wants to go home," said Kesha Rodriguez. "I'm here just to get her; whatever makes her comfortable."

When asked whether her daughter didn't feel safe, Rodriguez said, "Who would?"

This was the second time police have dealt with such pranks since January. Police departments are fed up -- saying the response to these so-called swatting calls is costing Bergen County taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars.

They are trying to stop swatting pranks from happening, but it's a huge challenge

"It requires a lot of technology to trace down these calls and see where they originated from," said Mahwah police Chief James Batelli.

Batelli said the phone numbers are often Internet-generated and thus often untraceable. He said police departments in Bergen County, along with school leaders and prosecutors, will meet in March to find ways to crack the technology and figure out who is behind the pranks.

"It's quite possible that this call wasn't made from the state of New Jersey," Batelli said. "It may have been from the West Coast. It may have been from Europe."

Next Tuesday, a new law in New Jersey goes into effect that increases penalties for swatters, bring five to 10 years behind bars and a $150,000 fine.

"It's great to make it a felony, but it doesn't accomplish much until you can charge somebody and have those penalties imposed," Batelli said.

Thus, the real issue is tracking down whoever is causing the scares.

On Jan. 19, nine school districts in Bergen County were affected by a series of bomb threats that were left on school voicemails.

Schools in Stamford, Connecticut have dealt with similar scares this week. The mayor there just sent a letter to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy asking for stricter laws.

The proposal in Connecticut would make calling in a threat of violence to a school a Class C felony, which could carry up to 10 years in prison. Currently, the maximum for a similar offense is up to five years in prison.

Stamford Mayor David R. Martin also said swatters should pay for the cost of the police response.

In:
• Bergen county