A Lakewood neighborhood was thrust into a tense and frightening situation on Motzei Shabbos after a local social worker received a suspicious package at her home, potentially from a client attempting to threaten her, prompting a large emergency response.
The alarming incident began unfolding after Shabbos when one of the social worker’s sons retrieved the family’s mail and noticed a suspicious envelope conspicuously lacking a return address. Concerned by its appearance—and aware of the sensitive and sometimes volatile nature of the social worker’s profession—the family quickly suspected the envelope might have been sent as a threat by a disgruntled client.
Authorities were immediately contacted, and Lakewood Police quickly arrived. Taking no chances, they summoned the Lakewood Fire Department, who, after assessing the potential threat, escalated the situation further by calling in a full hazmat team.
The family home and surrounding area were placed under strict safety protocols as specialized hazmat units carefully examined the package. While officials have yet to publicly disclose the contents of the envelope, a full-scale investigation is now underway, with law enforcement treating the matter as a potentially criminal act of intimidation.
