Six Walmart Stores report bulk purchases of cell phones and then dozens of propane tanks are stolen in Kansas City. Suspicious? NOT ACCORDING TO THE FBI. THE PHONE PURCHASES WERE PART OF A PHONE TRAFFICKING RING AND NOT RELATED TO VIOLENT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
The FBI was alerted after a large quantity of cell phones was purchased at several mid-Missouri Walmarts in the last week.
Early Saturday morning two “foreign speaking” men set off alarms after they entered the local Walmart store in Lebanon, Missouri and purchased 60 cellphones. The purchase was made around 4 AM in the morning. Police were called but released the men saying they didn’t have a legal reason to detain them.
The Macon County Sheriff’s office is investigating a second suspicious purchase of dozens of cellphones at the Columbia Walmart on Conley Road.
A third suspicious purchase was made at a Walmart in Macon, Missouri.
On Thursday a fourth Walmart in Jefferson City in mid-Missouri reported another bulk cell phone purchase.
This afternoon two more Walmarts reported bulk cell phone purchases.
This brings the total to six stores reporting bulk cell phone purchases in rural Missouri.
KRCG TV reported:
The FBI has been notified of several cases of suspicious purchases of large numbers of cell phones in Missouri.
Authorities have received reports of at least six instances in which people purchased large numbers of prepaid phones at Walmart stores in Missouri.
Jefferson City Police confirm that a large number of phones were bought by “three men with accents” at the Walmart on the east end of town over the weekend.
The first report of the strange purchase was filed in Lebanon, Mo.
Authorities say two men purchased 59 cell phones at the Walmart at about 3:50 a.m. on Saturday.
Authorities talked to the men, but since they didn’t have a legal reason to detain them, officers allowed them to leave.
The Laclede County Sheriff notified the FBI.
Two hours north of Lebanon, Columbia Police received the second report on Monday.
According to the Columbia Police Department, officers received a report five or more males purchasing multiple prepaid cell phones at about 9:30 p.m. on Friday, December 4.
The Macon County Sheriff’s Office also issued a statement saying the agency, along with Macon Police, is investigating a similar incident that happened at the Macon Walmart on Saturday.
KFVS reports Jackson Police Captain Rodney Barnes confirms 48 prepaid cell phones were purchased at the Walmart in Jackson on Friday, Dec. 4.
Read ore: Gateway Pundit
