Exclusive: At Texas fertilizer plant, a history of theft, tampering

[LeftInTX]

Saw this on General Discussion:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/03/us-usa-explosion-texas-idUSBRE94206020130503

By Selam Gebrekidan and Joshua Schneyer

NEW YORK | Fri May 3, 2013 11:23am EDT

(Reuters) - The Texas fertilizer plant that exploded two weeks ago, killing 14 people and injuring about 200, was a repeat target of theft by intruders who tampered with tanks and caused the release of toxic chemicals, police records reviewed by Reuters show.

Police responded to at least 11 reports of burglaries and five separate ammonia leaks at West Fertilizer Co over the past 12 years, according to 911 dispatch logs and criminal offense reports Reuters obtained from the McLennan County Sheriff's office in Waco, Texas through an Open Records Request.

Some of the leaks, including one reported in October 2012, were linked to theft or interference with tank valves.

According to one 2002 crime report, a plant manager told police that intruders were stealing four to five gallons of anhydrous ammonia every three days. The liquid gas can be used to cook methamphetamine, the addictive and illicit stimulant.

snip........

The perimeter was not fenced, and the facility had no burglar alarms or security guards, he said. "It was a hometown-like situation. Everybody trusts everybody.

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What the heck?? I can understand small town, but this just doesn't make sense. Even liquor stores and banks in small towns have decent security.

[Arctic Dave]

1. No alarm or fence?

"The perimeter was not fenced, and the facility had no burglar alarms or security guards, he said. "It was a hometown-like situation. Everybody trusts everybody."

Yeah, right.

So, nobody has a gun or locks in that town, also? After all, everybody trust everybody.

More like that would cost money and they weren't going to pay for it.

[Nay]

2. It's more likely that somebody's connected kid is a meth dealer, and the cops looked the other

way when stuff got stolen. And "It was a hometown-like situation. Everybody trusts everybody" -- give me a break. If you've had to report 12 break-ins/thefts, then obviously you CAN'T trust everybody, even in this tiny town! No, I vote for this being an inside/townie job that was allowed to go on. I've lived in towns this small, so I know damn well they know who the thief is. That's exactly why there's no fence or security.

[DhhD]

3. And when I looked at the pictures of the aftermath explosion, there were cars (burned out) parked

around the business office building. So they allow unattended persons snooping around? Not in my belief system. Somebodies are trying to point the finger away from the truth.