A bomb threat at the Sequim Home Depot, 1145 W. Washington St., led staff to evacuate the business for about 30 minutes on Wednesday, Sept. 17.

Deputy Chief Sheri Crain with Sequim Police Department said that the retailer received a call shortly before 2 p.m. from a man with a “heavy Middle Eastern” accent demanding thousands of dollars in gift cards from the store or else he would detonate a bomb.

He wanted the cards’ information read to him over the phone, Crain said.

The manager remained on the phone with the man for a considerable amount of time, Crain said, while staff and employees were evacuated.

Sequim Police reported to the scene but did not find any suspicious people or devices, she said.

After about 30 minutes, managers decided to reopen.

Crain said the suspect is not local and he was using a phone number with a phone plan that allows him to pay as he uses it.

Sequim Police contacted the FBI in Seattle and Crain said this is the first threat of its kind in Sequim but is a threat, she’s told, that is happening at various locations across the nation at major retailers like The Home Depot.

“It’s an unusual circumstance,” Crain said. “It had scam written all over it.”

Using national and local sources, Crain said there were no other threats like this made in the nation on Sept. 17 and they are following up with leads with assistance of the FBI.