CHARLOTTE, N.C. — There is an uptick in homemade explosives, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.     

Officials say they believe boredom and isolation is contributing to some people making more explosives. They are reminding everyone that making explosives is illegal at the state and federal levels.

Sgt. Chris Strong with the department's bomb squad says you don't know what you're messing with when you're experimenting.

“We are seeing more and more folks experimenting with things as the ability to get the information on how to manufacture them is becoming more prevalent via the internet,“ he said.

The CMPD bomb squad responded to a threat last week. It turns out that a package was a replica of a claymore mine which is a military-grade explosive.