Bomb Scares Continue at Topless Bars

VAN NUYS —  Los Angeles police are investigating whether a lone culprit is responsible for a series of bomb threats directed at topless bars in the San Fernando Valley over the past two months.

The most recent threat was made late Monday night in a telephone call to the Los Angeles Police Department’s Van Nuys Division. The caller reported a suspicious device at a phone booth in the 7700 block of Sepulveda Boulevard in Van Nuys, prompting evacuation of Thirsty’s Inn, a topless bar next door, said Detective Mike Goloskie.

Police found three flares wrapped in electrical tape.

“Obviously the intent was for the bar,” Goloskie said. “We’ve had a rash of them lately.”

The night before, police closed part of Sepulveda Boulevard in North Hills and evacuated the Classy Lady topless bar after a threat was phoned in to the business around 8 p.m., Goloskie said. An unidentified object was retrieved from the location.

Police are investigating whether the same culprit is responsible for bomb threats made against two other topless bars in Canoga Park in late December, LAPD Detective Garry Ryan said.

A telephone threat prompted the Dec. 27 evacuation of the Candy Cat bar on Winnetka Avenue, where bomb squad investigators found a suspicious package that turned out to be a box of animal crackers, according to police and employees.

That same night a bomb threat forced the evacuation of the Gotham City bar on Sherman Way, Ryan said. No device was found.