A Pennsylvania man has been charged in connection with an explosive device that detonated last month at a Delran residence and resulted in significant damage to a vehicle; personal property; and adjacent homes, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba.
It is alleged that 43-year-old Michael Patrick Takacs Jr. of Warminster was disgruntled at a former supervisor, traveled to his home in the township, and allegedly placed an explosive device under his vehicle, detonating it remotely.
Takacs is charged in an eight-page complaint with one count of transporting an explosive with knowledge and intent that it would intimidate an individual and damage and destroy a building, vehicle and real personal property, and two counts of unlawful possession of an explosive device, according to a release from Habba’s office on Aug. 7.
The suspect had an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew J. Skahill in Camden federal court, also on Aug. 7, and was ordered detained.
The explosive device detonated on July 26 at approximately 2:42 a.m. in the vicinity of a silver Ford Explorer parked in the resident’s driveway. The explosion caused a debris field extending out approximately 100 feet in diameter, with various nails and bolts lodged in both the body of the vehicle and in adjacent residential homes, according to the release.
Approximately two minutes prior to the explosion, surveillance video reviewed by law enforcement showed a dark-colored SUV – later identified as a Jeep Renegade – parked directly across the street from the victim’s residence and an individual exit the front driver’s side door carrying a black object. The individual approached the vicinity of the Ford’s driver’s side door, then quickly left the vicinity empty handed, returning to the SUV and departing the area.
Shortly after, surveillance video footage also showed what appeared to be the same dark-colored Jeep pass the victim’s residence at a high rate of speed, followed immediately by a large explosion that engulfed the area of the Explorer in or near the victim’s driveway. Law enforcement believes that the individual driving the Jeep remotely detonated an explosive device that he had placed near the Explorer while passing the victim’s residence.
The victim previously worked with Takacs and was one of his supervisors. On or around May of 2025, Takacs had his position terminated.
Law enforcement later observed a dark-colored Jeep Renegade – the same make and model of the SUV seen on surveillance footage outside of the victim’s residence – parked in the vicinity of Takacs’ residential driveway in Warminster. Investigators learned that Takacs had allegedly purchased detonators consistent with the device found at the scene of the explosion from an online website just weeks before the alleged crime, according to the press release.
Takacs had taken a screenshot on or about June 4 of an online map depicting the victim’s residence and had conversations with another individual about purchasing a license plate flipper, a device that assists drivers in obscuring or concealing license plates at the press of a button. Takacs did not hold the necessary permits, licenses or registrations to make or transport explosives.
He faces imprisonment of more than 10 years and a maximum fine of $250,000.
