FBI Issues Alert For Propane Trucks Stolen In S.A.
Chief Ortiz: 'Very Professional Job'
POSTED: 5:58 p.m. CDT June 1, 2004
UPDATED: 10:08 a.m. CDT June 2, 2004
SAN ANTONIO -- The FBI issued an alert Tuesday for two propane trucks and 15 gas canisters that were stolen over the Memorial Day Holiday weekend in San Antonio.
FBI Agent-In-Charge Patrick Patterson, of San Antonio, said the possibility that the propane could be used to create a bomb prompted him to notify the National Joint Terrorism Task Force in Washington and law enforcement officials in Texas.
"We've had recent reports of al-Qaida's desire to attack the United States," Patterson said. "And we have to be vigilant to these kinds of theft reports."
San Antonio Police Chief Albert Ortiz called the theft of the propane trucks from Ferrelgas at 5514 East Houston St. "a very professional job."
Ortiz said the individuals cut a fence and broke a lock to get away with the trucks, one of which had a 2,000 gallon tank, and another that had 3,000 gallons. Both tanks were 85 percent full.
Patterson is also concerned about 15 canister tanks that were stolen from a Methodist Ambulatory Surgery Center. Four of the tanks contained nitrous, three had carbon dioxide, three contained oxygen and four of the tanks were empty.
Patterson said he didn't know if the contents of the tanks could be mixed to make a weapon of mass destruction, but he offered another scenario.
"The tank could be emptied, and other items (could be) put in it to make it an improvised explosive device," he said, "which would be essentially a bomb."
One truck has Texas license plates 8WXW38 and the other has Texas license plates 7FFR20
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