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FBI investigates stolen military explosives found in The Villages home in Florida
By Rachel Wolf
Published February 11, 2026
The FBI has responded to The Villages in Florida after stolen military explosives were discovered, prompting authorities to evacuate residents. No injuries have been reported.
The Sumter County Sheriff's Office said officers responded to "a call in reference to what appeared to be explosive military items" at a home at approximately 11:07 a.m. on Tuesday.
Deputies then evacuated nearby residents to ensure their safety. The sheriff's office said Lake County’s bomb squad was also called to respond.
Investigators and the bomb squad determined the explosives were stolen from the military and cleared the area of the hazardous items, the sheriff's office said, adding that the FBI would be taking over the case.
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Residents from a neighborhood in The Villages in Florida were evacuated after authorities said they located stolen military explosives. (WOFL)
"We want to thank Lake County for their quick response," the sheriff's office said on Facebook.
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Law enforcement officers responded to a residential neighborhood in The Villages in Florida after stolen military explosives were discovered, prompting evacuations and an investigation. (WOFL)
In its initial announcement of a law enforcement presence in the area, the Sumter County Sheriff's Office said the evacuations in the surrounding area were done "out of an abundance of caution."
While The Villages spans three Florida counties, this incident took place at a residence in the Village of Rio Ranchero, located in the Sumter County portion of the community near Spanish Springs.
The FBI has taken over the investigation at The Villages. (Getty Images)
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Fox News Digital reached out to the FBI's Jacksonville field office for comment.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/fbi-investigates-stolen-military-explosives-found-villages-florida-home