String of called-in bomb threats continues at Southpoint mall

Police have not said the calls on Sunday were related to the two bomb threats that were called in at 8 a.m. and noon on Monday.

Man called Southpoint Mall four times

No specific business was mentioned in the first threat, but law enforcement officials were present outside California Pizza Kitchen at 9:30 a.m., and people were reporting that they were being evacuated. Mall officials said Southpoint, which usually opens at 10 a.m., would open late on Monday while an investigation was conducted.

It appeared that Nordstrom was the subject of the second Monday threat, though officials have not confirmed details of the phone call.

Although stores were closed during the 8 a.m. threat, Southpoint's doors were already open for mall walkers and people seeking breakfast.

"Security met us at the door and said we couldn't come in because there was an evacuation going on and they wanted everyone to leave," said Sandra, who comes to Southpoint on cold mornings to walk for exercise.

"Somebody said something about maybe a bomb threat."

Sgt. Brad Kirby with the Durham County Sheriff's Office and his K-9, named Dreyfus, searched Southpoint for explosives on Sunday and Monday. The two did not find anything suspicious.

"If he says nothing is here, I'm with him" Kirby said, referring to the K-9 partner. "I have faith in him."

Police said fake bomb threats are serious.

Col. Anthony Prignano, also with the Durham County Sheriff's Office, said it is a Class H felony, that could bring someone convicted of the crime up to six years in prison. He said a judge could order an offender to reimburse the facility for lost wages and productivity if found guilty of the crime.

"It's very, very disrupting," said Darius Chambers, who works at a Panera inside the mall. "We have people that are hungry. They come to Panera every day. It’s like you’re taking that from them -- even though the mall’s not open, you still have people that come here. We’re open at 6 a.m."

Another employee of the mall said there was a heavy police presence inside, and she was told to leave.

At 11 a.m., Durham officials cleared the scene, saying that no bombs or threats were found in the mall. They returned shortly after that to investigate the second threat.

The incident follows a string of four threats that occurred on Sunday afternoon, after one man calling from a Virginia area code made four separate phone calls. The Nordstrom store was evacuated and closed while authorities searched the area, but no bomb was found.

It is not clear if the incidents on Sunday and Monday are connected. Officials have not released any details about the callers or what is being done to identify them.

Anybody with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 919-683-1200.