Wheaton police worry about stolen fireworks

WHEATON, Ill. (AP) — Police in DuPage County say they're worried 5,000 pounds of high-powered, commercial-grade fireworks were stolen and resold in smaller quantities to the public.

DuPage County Sheriff John Zaruba said Wednesday that powerful fireworks, like a 5-inch mortar shell, "in the wrong hands are extremely dangerous." The fireworks were stolen from the stash before police became aware of it.

The fireworks causing the most worry are the mortar shells — the most common in the raid. Police say just one of the 5- to 10-inch turnip-shaped fireworks could kill someone close by or even blow up a car.

Police typically destroy the shells electronically — from 800 feet away.

In the last seven years, three people have died in DuPage County from fireworks.