Counterterrorism Officials Looking for Thieves after Dozens of Propane Tanks Stolen in Philadelphia

Police and counterterrorism officials are looking for a man who stole dozens of industrial propane tanks from two Philadelphia facilities last week, law enforcement sources told NBC10.

Security footage from the facilities show a man loading 43 tanks of various sizes into a dark-colored minivan, according to sources.

Twenty-four of the tanks are said to be the size and style used to fuel forklifts, sources said. Also taken were nine tanks that hold 100 pounds of fuel, four 50 pound tanks, four 33 pound tanks and two 2 pound tanks, according to sources.

Investigators sent out a bulletin to authorities across Northeast Philadelphia asking them to be on the lookout for the van and thief.

Dozens of propane tanks were also reported stolen from several locations in Independence and Lee’s Summit, Missouri, earlier this month.

Around the same time, managers from five Missouri Walmarts alerted law enforcement about Middle Eastern men purchasing large numbers of untraceable disposable cellphones from their stores.  Several law enforcement agencies in Missouri have reportedly notified the FBI about the bulk purchases.

Also in Missouri, a group of Middle Eastern men aroused suspicion in the Ozarks a few weeks ago when they asked locals if they could rent a boat and tour the the area’s hydroelectric facility.  Local law enforcement forwarded the security tip regarding Bagnell Dam to the FBI and a joint task force on terrorism.

In Goldsboro, North Carolina, police recently arrested four men from New York  “and charged them with felony larceny after an officer spotted them leaving a Lowe’s Home Improvement store with hundreds of plumbing supplies.”

The owner of a game store in Arkansas told All News Pipeline that “two middle eastern men went through Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma recently and purchased over $40,000 worth of these xbox accessories from video game stores.”

In New York City, the police are reportedly on high alert ahead of the holidays.

Although NYPD officials say there is no specific “credible threat” against the city, “top NYPD brass including Commissioner William Bratton met with counterterrorism officials to discuss the need for increased vigilance,” according to sources.