TUPELO – The Tupelo Police Department is warning residents about a social media trend involving people handing notes to business employees falsely claiming there is a bomb inside.
Police said the incidents should not be treated as pranks and warned that making a false bomb threat is a criminal offense that can lead to arrest and prosecution.
Authorities said the false threats can cause fear, disrupt businesses and require an immediate law enforcement response.
The department is encouraging parents to talk with their children about the consequences of participating in social media challenges involving threats or other dangerous behavior.
Police said something that may appear to be a joke online can result in criminal charges and put others at risk.
