First posted on the Humpty Dumpty site:

http://18.24.3.72/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=0028fd

Article's URL:

http://news.excite.com/news/ap/991229/10/news-explosives-stolen

"Explosives Stolen From Calif. Cops" Updated 10:40 AM ET December 29, 1999 "FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - Dynamite, gunpowder and the military explosive C4 were stolen from a police bomb-squad bunker, raising fears of New Year's Eve violence. But the blasting caps were left behind, prompting one expert to suggest there wasn't much to worry about. The explosives - 125 pounds of dynamite and C4, plus 75 pounds of gunpowder - were stolen between Saturday and Monday from the reinforced concrete bunker 20 miles northeast of Fresno."

"We have a great concern, and we're not going to hide that concern," said Fresno Police Chief Ed Winchester. Increased security for New Year's was being considered in light of the theft, he said, and, "We are taking a look at potential targets within our city."

"But Fresno Mayor Jim Patterson said the city's millennium celebrations will not be canceled."

"Mark Loizeaux, president of Controlled Demolition Inc. in Maryland, said the danger was minimal since the blasting caps weren't stolen."

"The people don't know what they were doing, or they certainly would have taken the detonators. It sounds like a childish prank," said Loizeaux, whose company has demolished more than 1,200 buildings. "The gasoline in your gas tank is technically more dangerous than this product, because you can set it off with a match."

"Police Lt. Andy Hall said a demolition expert could "take down a high-rise" with the amount of explosives taken. "But if you put it all in a box and set it next to a wall, it wouldn't do much other than to destroy some of that wall," he said."

"No suspects had been identified as of Tuesday evening, authorities said."

"The Fresno police force is in charge of the bunker because it runs a bomb squad that serves four counties. The squad uses the explosives to destroy ammunition, bombs and explosives confiscated by local law enforcement."

"The bunker, half-embedded in a hill, has a heavy steel door with several locks and is surrounded by fence topped with barbed wire."

My question is, what if they ALREADY HAVE blasting caps?!

-- Deb M. (vmcclell@columbus.rr.com), December 29, 1999

Answers

Touche'

-- Powder (Powder@keg.com), December 29, 1999.

Now they can arrest anyone 'suspected' of stealing the stuff, as if there was any to steal in the first place!!

-- Porky (Porky@in.cellblockD), December 29, 1999.

Add that stuff to the 750-1000 lbs from the Arizona theft, and Jesus, Mary, andf Joseph and all the Lil' Saints. Thats a spicy meatball! Big Boom-Boom.

-- Billy Boy (Rakkasan101st@Aol.com), December 29, 1999.

Any cops here wanna comment on how "easy" it is for someone to walk out with that load? I'll believe this BS when I see the independently analyzed security video.

Get real.

-- Hokie (va@va.com), December 29, 1999.

Sounds like an inside job to me. I wonder which Fresno PD member has decided to take no chances going for the win in the "Be Prepared For The Worst" catagory?

And just how bad does that person really think things are going to get? I mean, are there that many bridges between his place and the nearest population center?

WW ;)

-- Wildweasel (vtmldm@epix.net), December 29, 1999.