Missing Fertilizer Investigated As Commercial Theft

KNBC TV, Los Angeles ^ | May 21, 2007 | Not credited

[Sefton]

LOS ANGELES -- A big rig reported stolen turned up in Carson, Calif., but its five-ton load of fertilizer was gone, police said Monday. Lt. David Young of the Los Angeles Police Department's Northeast Station said authorities were concerned because fertilizer can be used to make explosives, but he said this was likely the work of thieves -- not terrorists.

[Sefton]

Move along people, nothing to worry about, move along...

[WorkerbeeCitizen]

Either Mexicans or Muslims. Get ready folks.

[P-40]

he said this was likely the work of thieves -- not terrorists.

Glad he is so certain....but I don't recall a big market for stolen fertilizer. It is kind of heavy...and cheap. Not something you'd normally expect to see a fencing operation for.

[Elsiejay]

There are many “fertilizer” formulations, but only one, so far as I know, that is used to make improvised bombs. This reporter failed to inform us as to whether or not ammonium nitrate is the fertilizer stolen,or commandeered.

[michigander]

Sure. It’s just those notorious fertilizer thieves. They're everywhere nowadays

[Hegemony Cricket]

Well, yeah, they’re ‘just thieves’ right now. They don’t officially become ‘terrorists’ until they actually blow something up...

[XR7]

Relax.
Some poor “undocumented immigrants” just needed it for an onion field.

[Pure Country]

but he said this was likely the work of thieves -- not terrorists.

And they know this how???????

[babygene]

“Not something you’d normally expect to see a fencing operation for.”

That was my thought as well...

[GYPSY286]

oh yeah, I see guys selling “hot fertilizer” out of their trunks all the time, lol.

[Gideon Reader]

This will turn up later tonight as Jack Bauer and the Los Angeles based CTU fight Terrorists for truth, justice and AMNESTY!!!!!

[theBuckwheat]

It would all depend on how much ammonium nitrate was in the fertilizer. Below a certain point and it won’t explode. Indeed, after the OKC Bombing, there was a proposal floated to restrict the amount of A/N in all fertilizers to prevent it from being used in ANFO.

[NVDave]

Fertilizer is not all that cheap now. Fertilizer goes up with the price of natural gas. Want to see how profitable fertilizer companies are just now that they’re increasing their prices? Look at the charts for stocks TNH and POT.

Five tons, depending on the type of fertilizer, will run you from $280/ton to $360/ton, in bulk. From what I read, this was packaged for retail sale, which means that this would probably fetch a few thousand dollars more. Given how many illegals are working in the landscaping business in SoCal at cut-rates, off the books, I can certainly see how retail fertilizer would be attractive. “Hey, Senor, we got a really good deal on zee fertilizer... make zee grass grow nice and green...”

Too many people think that all fertilizers can be used to make a bomb. If I gave you 10 tons of the fertilizer we use every year (11-52-0), you could soak that stuff with diesel oil until you’re blue in the face and it would never light off. Only ammonium nitrate (34-0-0) in good grade, without too much binder/filler, will work for ANFO. 34-0-0 is rarely seen in retail applications. Most homeowners would burn their lawns or landscaping with fertilizer that concentrated, so most retail fertilizer is blended to relatively low concentrations.

[BuffaloJack]

I suppose they’ll start watching for an increase in black market tomatoes, now?

[lexington minuteman 1775]

BANDINI is the word for fertilizer! LOL I remember those commercials.
I bet if it is Ammonium Nitrate they won’t report it so Los Angeles does not panic.

[QuiMundus]

Tons of fertilizer missing? I thought Michael Moore was just seen at Cannes?

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Enough to make one Hell of a bang!

[nonsporting]

Commercial Theft

I'm not buying it. Something smells.

[ApplegateRanch]

I see guys selling “hot fertilizer”

You mean they don't age the chicken manure, before selling it? That'll burn your plants to a crisp!

[ApplegateRanch]

Given how many illegals are working in the landscaping business in SoCal at cut-rates, off the books, I can certainly see how retail fertilizer would be attractive. “Hey, Senor, we got a really good deal on zee fertilizer... make zee grass grow nice and green...”

Second choice, 'commercial' pot farmers, trying to 'enhance' some low grade public lands, to increase yields/profits. Being sacked for commercial sale makes it easy for their workers to pack it in to the site(s).