Posted on 10/20/2001 9:23:21 PM PDT by concerned about politics
Large candy purchases investigated by FBI
The FBI said Friday that it is investigating the cash purchase of "large quantities" of candy from Costco stores in Hackensack and Wayne.
"We have been advised and we are looking into the incident of a gentleman buying large quantities of candy," said Sandra Carroll, an FBI spokeswoman in Newark.
Carroll declined to identify the purchaser, but indicated that he is in federal custody for immigration law reasons not related to the purchase of the candy.
"I cannot comment on INS detainees," Carroll said.
Carroll said it would be premature to draw conclusions about the purchaser's intent for the candy, which agents had not found by Friday night. She declined to describe the candy.
"We have no evidence or information for us to suspect there is any reason to cancel scheduled events," Carroll said when asked if the FBI had concerns about the safety of Halloween. "However, the public is encouraged to remain alert but calm."
Hackensack police took a report from Costco about the candy purchase at the Hackensack store at 11:40 a.m. Wednesday. The police then contacted the FBI.
"They told us to stay out of it," said Hackensack Police Chief Charles "Ken" Zisa.
Zisa said the FBI had already learned about the purchase. A local Costco manager had reported the incident to corporate headquarters, near Seattle, and had sent a videotape from a store security camera, Zisa said.
An official at Costco's corporate headquarters said Friday night that no one was available to comment on the matter. Another Costco official, who declined to be identified, said such large purchases from the chain of wholesale grocery and household goods stores are not uncommon.
Kerry Gill, a spokesman for the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service in Newark, said he could not discuss the case because of confidentiality policies.
I hate these "Clubs". They will not allow for purchasers to be anonymous. They force you to allow them to track your every purchase.
When I was preparing for y2k (or even more recently) I didn't want there to be any data record as the my large purchases of tuna fish or other canned goods. If there ever was a breakdown in the distribution system in this country all the government has to do is go to the "clubs" , then get the addresses of folks who bought large quanities of canned goods. Under emergency laws (written in recent years) the government (for the good of the many) can lawful take your canned goods from you. If you bought a generator at Sam's Club, they officials can find out who you are and come and get it BY LAW.
These "clubs" are only accomplices in this plan.
Be forewarned. Everytime you use a Scan saver card at a supermarket, they know everything you've bought and where you live. When you check out ask the person behind you to use their card...you forgot your at home!
It works.
I recall reports of a gentleman who fell and injured himself in a grocery store. He took the store to court. In their defense, the store chain attempted to use data from the plantiff's membership card to show that he regularly purchaced alchoholic beverages and, thus, to suggest that he was drunk at the time.
I'm no drunk, but Kroger doesn't need to know my spending habits.
How does 'remaining alert' help keep your kid from being poisoned by a piece of candy?
Notice how government officials never give any advice on how to avoid terrorism? They simply tell people to 'remain calm.'
I'm sure that on September 11, if the government had been able to contact the passengers aboard the hijacked airliners, it would have told them to "Remain calm and cooperate with the hijackers."
We DO know that on September 11, the Port Authority of New York told evacuating WTC workers in the second tower to "Remain calm and return to your desks."
Memo to government: I don't intend to panic, and it's rather condescending of you to assume that I will panic. Furthermore, emotionally-irrational people are going to panic regardless, so telling them not to panic won't accomplish anything.
If anything, the lack of coherent, practical advice from the government makes me more concerned that the government doesn't have a grip on this.
If anything, the government's constant repetition of the ineffectual words, "Don't panic," cause me to wonder if maybe they're in panic mode.
There are four responses to danger: (1) Fight, (2) Flight, (3) Hysteria, (4) Denial. Which one is Homeland Defense on?
It's beyond that, - - it's impossible.
We have what is presently the largest Costco store in the country in our town (Concord, Kalifornia), and the candy shelf is about 50' long. the average candy box is 10 inches wide, and costs about $11.00 - How could you fit $20,000 worth of candy on that shelf? - Did they take it all?
The FBI is trying to instill panic, and it is working.
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