From the Dept. of “You just cannot write comedy scripts this funny….”
The Video:
The Story via NBC12.com:
HENRICO, VA (WWBT) – NBC12 has uncovered one of those stories that makes you think: “How in the world does that happen?!” A truck filled with President Obama’s podiums and audio equipment was stolen in Henrico just days before his visit to Chesterfield.
We confirmed an investigation with the U.S. Defense Department. There are still a lot of questions. The biggest one being did the thieves intentionally target the President’s truck or did they take advantage of a crime of opportunity and give a big “uh-oh” when they saw what was inside.
When you see President Obama speak, there is a pretty typical setup including the presidential seal on a podium, the see-thru Teleprompter and a portable sound system.
Thieves saw the truck carrying that equipment and couldn’t resist the target.
We’re told the truck was parked at the Virginia Center Commons Courtyard Marriott in advance on Wednesday’s presidential visit to Chesterfield.
Sources said inside that vehicle was about $200,000 worth of sound equipment, several podiums and presidential seals, behind which only the President himself can stand.
They told NBC12 around 12:30 Monday afternoon that truck was recovered in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn Express near the airport and hotel staff confirm police activity. One guest we spoke with said he saw various law enforcement agencies examining a white box truck parked there.
According to him, the entire back parking lot was blocked off as Henrico Police along with “lots of guys in suits” investigated. He said the truck had no markings and no indication anything special was inside. That leads to another big question of whether or not any of that was actually stolen.
Late Monday evening we found a truck with US government tags still parked in the Marriott’s lot. We are waiting to find out if that is the original truck returned to the staff or a second vehicle.
If I were the Defense Department or the Secret Service, I would be watching E-Bay. Although, I highly doubt they took anything. Most likely, these thieves stole the truck, and got it somewhere, busted the lock and opened the back; and most likely when they saw what was in it —- in unison, screamed “OH CRAP!” and quickly brought the truck back!
Ed Morrissey brings a more serious thought to the table:
Update: On a more serious note, commenter NeoKong points out just how bad this security breach could have been:
The story is funny and everything until you realize what a breach of security this really was.
Once somebody gained unsupervised access to that bus and it’s contents they could have done anything they want. What if somebody planted a device or some sort of miniaturized explosive….? What if somebody planted electronic tracking devices or audio or video devices….? They would know where the POTUS would be going days in advance. Can anyone imagine the sort of conversations they could listen in on if somebody planted as bug or the details of security they could see if there was surveillance equipment…?
This is a BFD. Getting to that podium is almost as good as getting up close to the POTUS.
As for the explosive: Must….resist….saying….what…I’m….thinking….I….serve…the…Lord. 😯
But seriously, Ed’s commenter makes a good point; sounds like someone didn’t think things through much at all. Doug Powers, who is Michelle Malkin’s new flunky, writes a very funny piece on this story. 😀
Others on the great TOTUS Caper: Michelle Malkin, Don Surber, Mediaite, Weasel Zippers, Washington Post, Pajamas Media, The Gateway Pundit, Outside the Beltway, The Hill, Riehl World View, The Caucus, Pundit Press, The Hinterland Gazette, Associated Press, The Raw Story, Sipsey Street Irregulars, Hot Air and The Lonely Conservative (Via Memeorandum)