A 16-year-old from Old Bridge was charged with making fake bomb threats to a Hooters in East Brunswick - twice in the same month.

Police say the teen admitted calling the restaurant on July 6 around 9:30 p.m. claiming there was a bomb in the bathroom.

The calls prompted evacuations at the restaurant to shelter in place until a Middlesex County Sheriff's Office bomb sniffing K-9 responded to the scene and determined no explosive devices were present.

On July 19 around 2 p.m., police say they responded to another bomb threat. They say the call was made from the same phone number as the previous incident, and the individual claimed there was a bomb in the bathroom. The restaurant and surrounding buildings were forced to evacuate.

The unnamed teen is facing two counts of false public alarm and was taken to the Middlesex County Juvenile Detention Center.

"Hoax bomb threats create public fear while putting first responders and the public in unnecessary danger. False reports waste emergency response resources, which may lead to real tragedies," Chief Frank LoSacco stated. "We hope this serves as a lesson to others considering doing such a reckless act that it will not be tolerated."