NORTHAMPTON — A grenade found by contractors in an attic crawl space at a residence at 12 Lawn Ave. was safely removed by the State Police bomb squad early Wednesday afternoon.

The grenade, an M7-A3, turned out to be a non-explosive tear gas device. According to Deputy Chief David Murrett, who was on the scene, the grenade “looks old,” adding that it had more than likely been in the house “for some time.”

According to Murrett, the house was a recent purchase by the owners, who were not in it at the time the device was found.

First responders were on the scene shortly after the contractors placed a call at approximately 1 p.m. Fire and police personnel waited outside the house for the bomb squad, which arrived on the scene less than an hour later, by 2 p.m.

It took members of the bomb squad no more than five minutes to safely retrieve the device, which will be disposed of by State Police, said Murrett.

The area was not evacuated, as Murrett said the device did not pose a serious hazard, although a neighbor was informed of the grenade and left the scene shortly after the arrival of emergency personnel.

Samuel Gelinas can be reached at sgelinas@gazettenet.com.