Theft of propane tanks and 150 cell phones puts FBI on alert

[mmckee1952]

Theft of Dozens of Propane Tanks, Purchase of 150 Prepaid Cell Phones in Missouri Puts FBI on Alert

The FBI has launched an investigation after 150 prepaid mobile phones were bought from local Walmarts in Missouri. This comes after the theft of dozens of propane tanks in the area.

The large number of purchases took place at six Missouri Walmarts at least, authorities say, according to KRCG13.

A large portion of the phones were bought by “three men with accents” at one Walmart near the town of Lebanon, Jefferson City police said. The purchases were made very late, at 3:50am local time on Saturday, authorities said for 59 of the phones. Although the three men were questioned by authorities, nothing further could be done, as there were no grounds for detention.

It was then that the FBI was notified by the Laclede County Sheriff.

The second instance of large purchases was registered on Monday by police in Columbia, two hours north of Lebanon. Five or more men were behind that purchase, which occurred last Friday at 9:30pm.

The same issue is being investigated by Macon Police, where a purchase happened on Saturday, as well as Jackson Police, who are investigating the purchase of 48 prepaid phones on Friday, and Cape Girardieu, where 10 cell phones were purchased, according to KFVS.

The FBI is not ruling anything out, and has asked Missouri residents to notify authorities if they witness anything out of place.

Further to the mobile phone scare, agents are now drawing a connection to the disappearance of dozens of tanks of highly flammable propane gas around locations in Missouri. This elevates the possible connection to a potential terrorist plot, as the local mood seems to indicate.

The tanks were stolen from several locations in Independence and Lee’s Summit, according to Fox 4.

The first theft was reported at the end of November by a BP gas station in Lee’s Summit. At least 18 propane tanks were stolen from the cages situated outside. Later that night, another gas station in the area reported the same story. Two weeks after that, 28 tanks were stolen from a gas station in Independence.

Although an investigation is underway, not everyone is eager to connect the propane tanks with the mobile phones. Retired FBI agent Michael Tabman is stopping short of suspecting a terror plot: “Certainly, [when] we hear something about gas being stolen, we worry about a potential bomb. The good news is this is probably not part of terrorist planning for a number of reasons,” he told Fox 4.

“One is they wouldn’t steal these items because they know that would attract law enforcement’s attention. Also this would not be a tool of choice.”

There still remains the question of the mobile phones. The devices are prepaid and therefore, hard to trace.

Read More: http://www.redflagnews.com/headlines-20 ... i-on-alert

My Thoughts:
Considering ISIS produces a magazine that gives instructions on how to manufacture a bomb out of these items should give people concern.

[MarcSpaz]

.
Move along... Nothing to see here.

[AlanM]

I wouldn't worry about the propane in the tanks being used as an explosive. It can't be done without a large volume of air mixed with it. ( I won't explain on a public forum. Let's just say that 50 years ago I figured out how someone could level most of my high school on a night or weekend with nothing more than a timer and an ignition source.)

See: Mythbusters try it in this video: MythBusters: Exploding Propane Tank

As shown in the picture posted by MarcSpaz above, the concern is that the tanks can be used (and attract less attention than pressure cookers) as containers for IEDs.

[SHMIV]

Those prepaid phones aren't all that difficult to trace.

Sure, assuming that they were paid for in cash, there is no name attached to them, but they have serial numbers, and other identifiers. Put a watch out for those numbers, and when they activate, they can be traced by cell towers and gps (assuming that they don't disable the gps function.)

I'd like to have a little faith in the FBI, and assume that they are downplaying the threat so that potential terrorists won't read about this in the news and throw the phones away. At least, I hope that's the play, but we'll see.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[MarcSpaz]

It doesn't matter if the turn off the GPS function, in never really turns off. It just stops most apps from using the info.

Even if the phones font have gps, we can still track them real-time. From cello towers using rf triangulation. We do this with portable rigs too. We use several guys in vehicles and/or on foot and use signal strength to triangulate their position. We do training exercises all the time. We call them Fox Hunts.

[SHMIV]

I've heard of Fox Hunts; they sound fun.

The whole tower triangulation thing; that's a location method that's been around for a while. I can't fathom that the FBI has neglected to think about it. Of course, the thought that they were ordered to not do it, that's completely plausible.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[MarcSpaz]

Man, I have to stop using my phone. I went back and looked... I'm glad you actually understood what I typed. I wrote it and I'm reading it now, saying "what the heck did a type?" LOL

[SHMIV]

Lmao, it did take me a second to get "don't" out of "font". Also, I would love to see a cello tower; that would definitely make my day.

Seriously, though, your typos are far from the worst I've ever seen. You should see some of the ads on Craigslist list, especially the ones typed in broken English. My God, it makes me wanna smack someone, lol.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[MarcSpaz]

Hahaha! My two main sources of entertainment are Craig's List and People of WalMart!

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[kelu]

3 men, 20 wives each, Christmas is coming, what's so unusual?
On the other hand, let's make those phone ring and detonate under their asses, not when they want.

[SHMIV]

Ooh... that would be somewhat poetic. I would worry about the neighbors, though.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[SHMIV]

This article is relevant:

http://conservativetribune.com/after-wa ... ll-phones/

It doesn't mention the propane tanks, but it does mention some random explosives in the woods, and "foreigners" loitering in odd places.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]