Man Set Off Bomb At Ex-Boss's Home In BurlCo After Losing His Job: FBI

DELRAN, NJ — A Pennsylvania man exploded a bomb near his former boss's house in Delran in an act of revenge after losing his job, federal authorities said Thursday.

Michael Patrick Takacs, Jr. placed the bomb under his former supervisor's SUV in the early morning of July 26, authorities said. The explosion created a debris field 100 feet in diameter and lodged nails and bolts into the vehicle and nearby homes, according to the FBI.

No injuries were reported.

Takacs, 43, of Warminster, Pennsylvania, was terminated from his job in May, officials said.

Law enforcement searched Takacs's home on Aug. 1, finding he spent months planning the explosion, according to FBI Special Agent Breyana Mason.

Takacs's phone had a screenshot taken on June 4 of the victim's home, Mason said in a criminal complaint. He also texted another person to discuss purchasing a license plate flipper, which obscures or conceals license plates at the press of a button.

On June 28, Takacs bought two remote fireworks igniter systems, which can be used to remotely detonate an explosive, authorities said. The systems were shipped to his house in early July.

At 2:42 a.m. July 26, Takacs drove to the victim's neighborhood and placed a bomb under the victim's vehicle, officials said. He sped away from the scene just before the bomb went off, according to Mason.

Takacs was charged with transporting an explosive to intimidate a person or damage property, unlawfully transporting explosive materials, and two counts of unlawful possession of an explosive device.

He was ordered detained Thursday in his first appearance in Camden federal court.

Patch's call to the office of Takacs's listed attorney wasn't immediately returned.