Numerous Propane Tanks Stolen From Store (Columbus, Ohio)

WCMH-TV ^ | November 30, 2004 | Columbus Dawg

[Columbus Dawg]

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Officials are investigating the theft of about 30 propane tanks from a local hardware store, NBC 4's Nancy Burton reported.

The propane tanks were stolen at about 10 p.m. Monday from the Sears Hardware store in the Northwest Center at Henderson and Reed roads.

The tanks were being stored outside in locked cages, Burton reported.

Police said thieves broke the locks on the last two cages and stole about 30 tanks.

Burton said a witness called the store as the theft occurred. The manager on duty then called police, but the suspects left the scene before police arrived.

The witness said he saw a large white Ryder truck and two sets of feet between the store and cages.

Police have notified the FBI about the theft. Because so many tanks were taken, officials from the Department of Homeland Security are investigating the incident.

Officials said they do not have a motive for the theft.

[Columbus Dawg]

Suspicious burglary in northwest Columbus. FBI and Homeland Security are have been notified by Columbus Police.

[texan75010]

Hank Hill, paging Hank Hill,,,please report to Ohio....

[Patrick1]

First votes now this.

[SlowBoat407]

Several suspects are being grilled...

[Velveeta]

White Ryder truck ping.

[Calpernia]

ping

[soundandvision]

ROFLMAO

[Cindy]

THANKS CALPERNIA for the pings and info.

[Calpernia]

[Semper Paratus]

I would check for any big pig roasts coming up in the area.

[Lijahsbubbe]

Does Columbus have a large Muslim population?

[lilylangtree]

This is not good.

[Dalite]

Another emerging trend.

Maybe someone is gonna barbecue all them Sponge Bobs stolen from BQ.

There was a rash of this prior to the election that had some folks in enforcement on pins and needles.

[Columbus Dawg]

Compared to cities around the country, Columbus does not have a large Muslim population. I would say it is average.
Columbus was home to the truck river and Somalian individual who were caught planning to commit an act of terrorism at a local shopping mall.
On that point, there is a decent sized Somali population in northeast Columbus.

[OXENinFLA]

Officials said they do not have a motive for the theft.

A big barbecue??

[hoosierboy]

Instead of thinking this was done by some terrorists intending to use them to blow things up, does anyone think that maybe someone just was a thief and stole gas tanks for the thought of stealing gas tanks.

[Lijahsbubbe]

the truck river and Somalian individual who were caught planning to commit an act of terrorism at a local shopping mall.

Oh yes, I recall that one. Thanks for the info.

We had a Somalian woman murdered in Mpls the other day for Khat. Looks like the tip of the iceberg on the Khat problem.

[Lijahsbubbe]

You think Plankton stole the tanks?

[Recovering Hermit]

Several suspects are being grilled...

LOL! You're a gas.

[Columbus Dawg]

That is very possible. However, it is wise to do what Columbus Police has done in a case like this.

[Dalite]

If Clams got legs, then Plankton may have pulled off the heist... :)

[JoeSixPack1]

...does anyone think that maybe someone just was a thief and stole gas tanks for the thought of stealing gas tanks.

Yes. They'll sell easy. And they won't even have to discount them.

[Camerican]

My sentiments exactly. If Al Queda can afford to spend $500,000 to take down the WTC, it can surely afford to spend $500 on propane tanks at the local Home Depot.

[SedVictaCatoni]

It continues to amuse me, by the way, that people refer to "Columbus, Ohio" even though the next largest Columbus is about 1/8 our population.

[Deguello]

"said they do not have a motive for the theft"

Arctic Air coming down. It's gonna get cold. Quick buck in the hood. Move the stolen grills indoors.

[huskerone]

Last month over 100 40-Gallon propane tanks were stolen in the Denver/Colorado Springs area as well. To my knowledge
none of the tanks have been found.

FBI and Homeland Security were notified by the reporter who
did the story. The various local police departments involved in the investigations of the thefts didn't think to do so.

[Mo1]

Instead of thinking this was done by some terrorists intending to use them to blow things up, does anyone think that maybe someone just was a thief and stole gas tanks for the thought of stealing gas tanks

With the high cost of heating this winter .. that is a good possibility

[elmer fudd]

That's exactly what I was thinking. Terrorists don't have to resort to stealing propane tanks. They can buy or smuggle in far more lethal stuff than that.

[Kirkwood]

At least it wasn't butane... butane's a bastard gas.

[dead]

Officials said they do not have a motive for the theft.

I’m going to speculate and suggest that perhaps the motive involved the monetary value of propane tanks and the greed of an unscrupulous person or persons.

[Alaska Wolf]

Could be poor loser Democrats. Wasn't Jesse Jackson in Columbus recently?

[LadyJMayo]

I hope you are right. That would be a much better use of them. In the back of my mind though, is the thought that we know there are terror cells in Ohio (probably every state, really), we know they had plans to blow up a shopping mall in Columbus at one time and two of them were caught, Ohio is a "red" state, and Ohio is kind of THE red state that tipped the balance for Bush. Okay...that said...I am putting my tin hat back on. I just hope all my friends and family in Ohio will be extra vigilant!

[upchuck]

Boy, y'all sure are jumpy.

But my home is gonna be toasty warm this winter.

[stinkerpot65]

He-he.

[Noumenon]

Probably stolen by meth lab operators. They use the propane for 'cooking', to be sure, but they also empty the tanks and use them to store anhydrous ammonia, one of he essential ingredients used in the process. In these parts, many farmers have 500 / 1000 gallon tanks of anhydrous, as it is used as a component in fertilizer. Nasty stuff to handle, too.

We - northern Idaho, eastern washington - also have experienced a wave of small propane tank thefts.

[b4its2late]

Perhaps simply preparing for a long cold winter, not believing the global warming alarminsts?

[rdl6989]

I think the propane tanks were stolen by someone running a meth lab.

[FreeInWV]

Its probably that the price of gasoline pushed someone to convert their van to propane using Red Green's plans.

This is looking like a trend.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1274830/posts

[Chemist_Geek]

Instead of thinking this was done by some terrorists intending to use them to blow things up, does anyone think that maybe someone just was a thief and stole gas tanks for the thought of stealing gas tanks.

Well, as far as terrorists go, it'd be wise to consider that aspect in the investigation. You're correct - when one hears hoofbeats, think horses not zebras. But when one considers the damage a herd of zebras - terrorists in this allegory - could cause...

However, the bigoted attempt to pin this theft on a Muslim is just sadly pathetic.

[Chemist_Geek]

I’m going to speculate and suggest that perhaps the motive involved the monetary value of propane tanks and the greed of an unscrupulous person or persons.

No! No! It was mooselimb terrorists! It had to be! There's a mosque somewhere in Columbus - that proves it!

/mocking-jerking-knees

[Toddsterpatriot]

However, the bigoted attempt to pin this theft on a Muslim is just sadly pathetic.

Yeah, what's next? Blaming Muslims for terrorist acts?

[Calpernia]

>>>>However, the bigoted attempt to pin this theft on a Muslim is just sadly pathetic.

Bigoted attempt??

Using racial or cultural stereotypes for no reason is bigoted.

Speculating about a group that uses their religion and culture as justification to attack, then issues threats and promises to do it is NOT a bigoted attempt.

[finnman69]

probably crystal meth makers

[Chemist_Geek]

Oooh, I don't know, maybe blaming terrorists for terrorist acts?

Naah, that'd be too much work - separating the innocent from the guilty - for bigoted minds.

[Toddsterpatriot]

Naah, that'd be too much work - separating the innocent from the guilty - for bigoted minds.

Yeah, it's sad when a few murderous thugs ruin it for the rest of you.

[Cold Heat]

I have a half dozen of them. Maybe I should lock them up.

Oh! wait, that did not work.

I think they wanted the gas within. It is expensive and it is getting cold.

[SavageRepublican]

Re: meth lab supplies...I was thinking the same thing. Big problem here in Missouri. I used to work at a company that rented out propane tanks, and they were disappearing all the time (especially out in rural areas were it's really easy to hide a lab).

[rdl6989]

We have the same problems here in Indiana. Many farmers have anhydrous ammonia tanks. It makes the news all the time that somebody stole some ammonia from a farmer in order to make meth.

[jan in Colorado]

The red states should be on guard.

I seem to recall OBL promising to punish those states that went for Bush.

Then again, it could just be a simple burglary.

[MPJackal]

"does anyone think that maybe someone just was a thief and stole gas tanks for the thought of stealing gas tanks."

You may be right. The resale value would be about $600. I would put my money on the gas being stolen for heat. Winter is around the corner and 5 X 30 is 150 Gallons. That would provide heat for a small place for a couple of months. I would recommend the police keep this as a high priority just in case though.