"Propane? No! I haven't seen Propane.
Why are you looking at me like that?
Maybe he went on vacation. Leave me alone.
Where's Wood? Maybe he knows. I want my lawyer!"
Posted on 06/02/2004 8:07:15 AM PDT by pwatson
Propane thefts fuel caution Web Posted: 06/02/2004 12:00 AM CDT
Tracy Idell Hamilton Express-News Staff Writer
Police and the FBI are searching for two fully loaded propane trucks stolen over Memorial Day weekend from an East Side gas company.
The theft of more than a dozen flammable gas tanks at a downtown medical outfit during the same period has law enforcement reacting with caution, but authorities do not believe the two crimes are related or that the thefts are linked to terrorism.
(Jerry Lara / Staff)
San Antonio Police Chief Albert Ortiz (right) answers questions with FBI Special Agent in Charge Patrick Patterson at a news conference Tuesday on the theft of two propane trucks.
Officials with the San Antonio Police Department and the FBI on Tuesday asked citizens to keep their eyes peeled for the tanks or the Ferrell Gas trucks, or for information on anyone trying to sell a large amount of propane.
The industrial trucks have white cylindrical propane tanks and blue and white cabs.
Both the cabs and the tanks carry the "Ferrellgas" logo.
One truck bears the identification number #D112, license plate 8WXW38, and was carrying a 2,600-gallon tank; the other truck's identification number is #B889, has license plate 7FFR20, and was carrying a 3,000-gallon tank.
Both were taken from a parking lot owned by Ferrell Gas at 5514 E. Houston St.
FBI spokesman Rene Salinas said the market for propane in Mexico is strong now, and that the thieves could have been filling an order, mirroring a similar theft about nine months ago.
He described the theft as a "professional job" because the culprits appeared to have left no evidence behind and because they were skilled at driving the large trucks.
Meanwhile, 15 tanks of various gases, including nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide and oxygen, were stolen from a secured area owned by Methodist Healthcare System at 1008 Brooklyn Ave. also over the holiday weekend.
The silver cylindrical tanks were reported missing Tuesday morning.
Salinas said the alert has been posted across the United States, and law enforcement officials in Mexico also have been contacted.
"We don't want to alarm anyone," Salinas said, adding: "but we do want people to be on the lookout."
Hank Hill of Strickland Propane was unavailable for comment...
Why aren't full propane trucks that sit for any length of time fitted with those "boots" they use for parking scofflaws?
ummm... yeah.
That is an absoluely great idea. They can be removed quickly with a key, but put two of them on the right front and the rear left and it will make quick theft very difficult. You should contact Homeland Security.
Most likely an "employee" borrowed them to fill up his and his buddies tanks.
Both the cabs and the tanks carry the "Ferrellgas" logo.
Sounds like they are very similar to this:
"I would like to report a stolen truck."
"What is the vehicle's secret code?"
"Let me look it up, It was...."
"Our scanners show no humans in a 1000-foot radius other than the occupants. Would you to engage the self-destruct feature?"
"Yes ma'am, I would."
"This is optional, and there will be a one-time non-refundable fee added to your next billing statement."
"I understand."
"Hang on, let me get your account info here. Okay, sir I have it. Self destruct is initiated. Sir, did you want to hear the in-vehicle microphone feed?"
"Yes, ma'am."
(sound of truck driving to secret Al Qaeda hideout) BOOM!
Two of them?
Probably someone who converted his gas guzzling SUV to propane and now needs lots of fiel for it!
At least we can hope that is all it is! If he stole the co2 truck he is in for a surprise!
btt
Fiel=Fuel!
Why thank you!
But I can't believe I'm the first one to think of it - maybe there's a cost factor?
Lots of friends. After all, it was the holiday weekend... bbq's and all.
Most likely a normal theft, with the trucks heading to Mexico. Its a documented fact this is a problem in Texas.
The reports I have seen is authorities are concerned truck A would be used to break through a barrior and Truck B would be used to hit the target.
However it just occured to me if Truck A blew at the gate of the target wouldn't be a bit tough for truck B to drive past blown up Truck A to hit target?
Two spells diversion or two (almost)simultaneous attacks since the second would want to gloat at the success of the first.
They keep the info on their servers and all you do is log in and check out the location - covers Mexico too.
Seems to me to be a good alternate as someone will figure out how to disable the boots, which are an excellent stop-gap.
Just imagine one of those trucks going off on a bridge or in a tunnel. Right after 9/11 truck traffic was banned over Boulder Dam for that reason.
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