Police are investigating after a device that was made to look like a bomb was found on the lawn of a Bloordale Village rooming house on Wednesday afternoon.

Emergency crews were first called to the building on Wade Avenue near Bloor Street and Lansdowne Avenue at around 10:55 a.m. after a passerby spotted the device.

Upon arrivals, firefighters determined that the device merited further investigation and ordered the evacuation of four nearby homes and an auto body shop.

The all-clear was then given at around 1:30 p.m. after the Toronto police bomb squad inspected the device and determined that it posed no safety threat.

The device was made up of a paint can and what appeared to be a battery charger and was “definitely made to look like a bomb,” according to Platoon Chief Don Bean

“We have a city full of great, great people but in a city this big and this complex we are going to have some whackos and we are going to have some people that maybe want to threaten others or maybe want to upset the community,” Bean told reporters at the scene. “It’s a new world and we have to deal with every one of them as though it is an event that could hurt us, our workers and our people.”

Firefighters have cleared the scene on Wade Avenue but police remain on scene collecting evidence in the hopes that they will be able to identify the person who left the device on the lawn.

Speaking with reporters, Sgt. Art Kotas said police could ultimately lay charges of criminal mischief or endangering life against the responsible party.

Kotas then added that police are canavassing the area for possible surveillance camera footage and plan to speak to all of the residents of the rooming house, many of whom left without speaking to authorities.

“There is many different aspects and angles to this investigation,” Kotas said.

Remember for instant breaking news follow @cp24 on Twitter.