Propane thefts get FBI attention

Chicago Sun-Times ^

[arkady_renko]

Propane thefts get FBI attention

Chicago Sun-Times 3/19/03

The theft of propane tanks from Chicago area businesses probably would not have prompted police departments to call the FBI in the days before the Sept. 11 attacks.

But with war looming and the nation on alert for terrorism, several suburban agencies decided federal authorities needed to know.

Dozens of the tanks have disappeared from businesses in Burbank, Evanston and Oak Lawn over the last month or so.

The Burbank theft may have been the most intriguing to police: Eight tanks were stolen from a convenience store where Nabil al-Marabh was arrested by the FBI on Sept. 19, 2001. His name was on a U.S. terrorist watch list.

FBI spokesman Ross Rice confirmed the bureau is investigating the thefts, but he downplayed any possible link to terrorism.

"We are seeing whether there is a connection between the thefts," Rice said, pointing out that FBI agents have no evidence of anything more than isolated cases of larceny.

He added, however, that agents are "exploring the possibility of something more nefarious."

Some of the stolen propane tanks are designed for use with home grills. Others have industrial applications, such as powering fork lifts.

Propane industry officials said they have been on alert for the possibility that terrorists could steal them to use as weapons.

"Our association put out a warning after 9/11 to be more observant, especially about the security of our trucks," said Carl Mattis, manager of Chicago Propane Co.

In addition to the suburban thefts, Chicago police are investigating the theft of 25 propane tanks from a business at 5248 S. Cicero around Feb. 7 and 10 more tanks from the same location around Feb. 28, a police spokesman said.

Al-Marabh is being held in Detroit, where he provided testimony behind closed doors last week in the case of four men suspected of participating in a terrorist "sleeper cell" based in Chicago. Their trial began this week. The government is preparing to deport al-Marabh to Syria.

[arkady_renko]

Just a heads-up.

A_R

[goodnesswins]

"Dozens of the tanks have disappeared from businesses in Burbank, Evanston and Oak Lawn over the last month or so."

DOZENS? How big are THESE tanks?

[goodnesswins]

I see....home grill and lift truck size.

[palmer]

Could just be the high price of propane ($1.87 last time I got filled)

[hispanarepublicana]

[cake_crumb]

The thefts might be due to the economy and the long, hard winter...but they do make excellent bombs.

[TADSLOS]

Some of the stolen propane tanks are designed for use with home grills. Others have industrial applications, such as powering fork lifts

20lb varieties most likely. Still, plenty big enough to do some real damage, especially if numerous are rigged together.

[TADSLOS]

"Propane and propane accessories"

[MichaelP]

New regulations went into effect late last year mandating OPR valves on all propane tanks. This effectively made all others obselete. When I went to the Florida Keys in December, I had to buy new tanks for my RV and BBQ because they would not fill my old ones.

I guess some folks didn't want to buy the new ones...

Mike

[cricket]

"The Burbank theft may have been the most intriguing to police: Eight tanks were stolen from a convenience store where Nabil al-Marabh was arrested by the FBI on Sept. 19, 2001. His name was on a U.S. terrorist watch list."

. . .Don't these stores have cameras so that they would know more than the fact that these cannisters have just disappeared?

[JustPiper]

Thanx !How big are these tanks any clue? There are so many Arabs here, they all have white vans. There are mosques here on every corner it seems. Also any clue where they might use these tanks? They had said blowing my gas stations. Well, then again when I am housebound, I need to then see them hauling something out my window.

[SavageRepublican]

Here in Missouri, people steal tanks (usually the bigger ones - 250 gal or maybe a 500) to use in the production of methamphetamine.

I used to work in the home office of a fuel company that sold propane, and we always had problems with tanks reported missing.

I'm not saying that's what happened to the Chicago tanks, but I thought it was interesting.

Any of those things could be made into a hell of a bomb pretty easily. Scary thought.

[APBaer]

We here at Strickland Propane are keeping an eye out!

[arkady_renko]

I wonder if it is possible to compute the explosive potential of one of these small tanks?

A_R

[N. Theknow]

Tank Heaven for Little Grills.

[FreedomPoster]

Baliff!

[mbynack]

FYI - Terrorists in Germany used propane tanks and fire extinguishers filled with explosives during the 1980's. I remember one at Ramstein AB in 1985 that was built from a 20 lb tank.

[the_doc]

I was just thinking we need to put Hank on the case.

[taxed2death]

I saw a video a few years back that stunned me.

It was a demonstration of the explosive power of several substances. A guy shot a round into a diesel tank, small poof and a little fire, then the same guy shot a round into a tank of gasoline, pretty bog boom....it looked similar to the smokey pirotechnics on a hollyweird set.....then the guy shot a 20lb. tank of propane.

Holy COW!!!!!

Huge explosion and full blown mushroom cloud, it even rocked the camera that was filming from about 300 feet away. After that, I switched to a diesel stove on my camper....no way I'm trucking one of those 20 lb. bombs around with my loved ones!

[APBaer]

I was just thinking we need to put Hank on the case."

Thank you for reminding me.
That probably explains the call I got from Boomhauer this morning, but of course I could not understand him