Wheaton North High School lockdown lifted after suspicious item found near school

WHEATON, Ill. (WLS) -- Wheaton North High School was placed on lockdown Wednesday morning as police investigated a suspicious item found outside the school.

School officials said the item appeared to be a "pried-open lockbox that could potentially be used as a gun safe."

Note: The video in the player above is from an earlier report.

Students have resumed their school day, but Wheaton police will remain in the area as they complete their investigation.

The district said some area elementary schools - including Hawthorne, Lowell, Sandburg and Washington - were also placed in a "Secure & Teach" for a short period of time.

Wheaton District 200 officials said the lockdown was out of an abundance of caution and there is no need for parents to respond to the school. They reiterated there is no threat to the school at this time.