Avalon, NJ Police Receive Hoax Murder, Bomb Threat Calls

Avalon Police were kept busy over the weekend following up on hoax calls to their dispatch center. The so-called swatting calls are so serious that they require significant time and manpower for police to follow up on.

Avalon Police Deal With 'Swatting' Calls

Swatting is an illegal prank that occurs when someone calls in a fake report to police, accusing another person of a serious crime. Usually, the accusation is so severe that it warrants an immediate armed response from the police.

The FBI's  Kevin Kolbye tells why swatting calls are such a serious crime.

“People who make these swatting calls are very credible,” he said. “They have no trouble convincing 9-1-1 operators they are telling the truth.” And thanks to “spoofing” technology—which enables callers to mask their own numbers while making the victims’ numbers appear—emergency operators are doubly tricked."

Sunday's Swatting Call in Avalon

In a Facebook post, Avalon Police said they received a call at 4:33 pm on Sunday, Aug. 18, from someone alleging that a murder had been committed at a house in the 7700 block of Dune Drive.

The caller said that if police went to the home the law enforcement officers would also be killed.

Avalon Police and the Cape May County SWAT Team responded to the location of the alleged crime.... Renters were at home at the time of the emergency response and told authorities no crime had been committed. The property was searched and cleared without incident.

 

Saturday's Swatting Call in Avalon

At 10:17 am on Saturday, Aug. 17, Avalon Police got a call claiming a bomb was in a hotel near the same property as Sunday's swatting call.

Avalon Police responded along with officers from the Cape May Sheriff's Office K9 unit. The hotel was searched and no bomb was found.

Avalon Police Are Looking for the Person Responsible

An investigation is underway to find the person responsible for making these swatting calls. Police say that if you have any information, you should call 609-967-3411.