Coquitlam RCMPblocked traffic at a local business on United Boulevard Monday morning after receiving a report about a suspicious-looking device.
Just after 11 a.m. customers told staff they had seen what looked like a pipe bomb in the parking lot.
"We take public safety very seriously," said Cpl. Jamie Chung. "We shut down the area from foot and vehicle traffic for several hours until we were certain the area is safe once again. With the assistance from Explosive Disposal Unit, the found object was rendered safe."
It was later determined that the device was a cylindrical utility trailer registration document container that is commonly used by commercial truck drivers.
"We are pleased to say that there was no explosive at all," Chung said. "We think the paper container was accidentally dropped from a vehicle."