West Fertilizer Plant was an Easy Mark.....

[global1]

Still reeling from the devastating explosion in West, Texas, where a fertilizer plant exploded, killing 15 and injuring more than 200 people, law enforcement has reported the site has been repeatedly

Link to article:
http://security-today.com/articles/2013/05/03/west-fertilizer-plant-was-an-easy-mark.aspx

[Buzz Clik]

1. Let's save everyone the trouble. The entire article is about 150 words:

Still reeling from the devastating explosion in West, Texas, where a fertilizer plant exploded, killing 15 and injuring more than 200 people, law enforcement has reported the site has been repeatedly burglarized.

Worse yet, there were no security measures in place to thwart the burglary and vandalism in the past 12 years. There were at least 11 burglaries and five chemical leaks at West Fertilizer Co. An exclusive report by Reuters gathered information from police dispatch logs and criminal offenses.

According to McLennan County Sheriff Matt Cawthon, the reports clearly indicate a lax attitude toward security at the plant, though there is no evidence that a security breach at the facility caused the April 17 explosion. Some of the materials stored at the facility were necessary ingredients used in making illegal methamphetamines.

The cause of the blast remains under investigation, though authorities are saying there was a fire at the plant earlier in the day based on tips received on an arson hotline.

[LiberalAndProud]

2. It was, and I would be surprised if terrorists don't take note.

Even with a constant inventory of ammonium nitrate (which the West, TX plant did not), it would be possible to steal a few kilos and blow up the rest. If it's not convenient for business security just isn't all that important.

H.S. snagged 106 grams of Ecstasy though, so it's all good.

[tridim]

3. Why the hell isn't high-explosive security federally regulated?

I don't give a damn that this is Texas.

Can't afford security? Then you can't sell ammonium nitrate. Period.

[dballance]

4. No Security to Protect the Major Ingredient used in the OK City Bombing by McVeigh.

Yep, that makes a lot of sense. We have a facility that houses ingredients for cooking meth and making domestic terrorists' bombs. But no security even though they knew they were being robbed repeatedly.

What's the definition of criminal negligence?