San Diego police plan to increase patrols near mosques and synagogues throughout the city for the next week after a suspicious hoax type of device was found near the House of Israel in Balboa Park on Saturday, officials said.

Police received a call around 9:30 a.m. after something was found near the back of the building.

Officers with the Metro Arson Strike Team and the fire departments bomb squad responded to investigate.

The immediate area was evacuated and a sweep for any additional packages was conducted. After a thorough investigation, it was determined this was a hoax type of device and there was no danger to the public, the police department said in a statement.

A MAST spokesperson described the device as basically just a small package with some wires protruding from the top.

Police officials said even though it was not an actual destructive device they said any hoax device placed in a location to cause fear is a crime and is taken very seriously.

The departments Criminal Intelligence Unit is monitoring locally and nationally for any actionable intel regarding threats, police said.

Additional police patrols to Balboa Park as well as near mosques and synagogues in the city fwere planned for at least the next week out of an abundance of caution, police said.

Anyone with information related to the hoax device was asked to call the Metro Arson Strike Team at 619-236-6815 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.