Avoid anhydrous
ammonia theft ...

The Drug Enforcement Administration reports that anhydrous ammonia theft has spread throughout the South and Midwest. Anhydrous ammonia is a key ingredient in the production of methamphetamine. Meth makers often obtain the substance by siphoning tanks at fertilizer plants and farms.

General tips if you work with anhydrous ammonia
What to do if you suspect theft
What to look for in daily inspections
What to do if you observe someone suspicious around your tank

Working with anhydrous ammonia:

• Have tanks delivered as close to the time of application as possible.
• Bleed and remove hoses at the end of each day. A typical hose may contain enough ammonia to manufacture meth.
• Know how much you're leaving in a tank at the end of each day. Then inspect tanks first thing in the morning. Since many anhydrous thefts occur over the weekend, check them then as well.
• Look for suspicious items left near tanks, such as duct tape, garden hoses, bicycle inner tubes, buckets or coolers. thieves will leave these materials behind wen scared off.
• Place brightly colored plastic wire ties or seals between the valve wheel and the roll cage to facilitate quick visual checks.
• Drug lab scouts roam country roads looking for the tanks they'll hit later that night. If you must leave a tank in an open area, position it near a well-traveled thoroughfare. Avoid placing tanks in remote areas. By placing tanks in areas where they may be observed by passing motorists or law enforcement, would-be thieves are discouraged and will be more likely to strike elsewhere.
• Never leave your tank where it can be tapped easily. These criminals want to work quickly and go completely unnoticed. At the end of the day, take the tank to a lighted, secure area on your farm (underneath a barn light) within sight of a residence. However, do not store the tank near the farmhouse or livestock confinement areas.
• Inspect the condition of each nurse tank upon delivery and return.
• Check tanks frequently for tampering. Tanks which appear to be unattended are often targeted for theft.
• Return tanks immediately after use.
• Report any signs of tampering to your local law enforcement agency.

If you suspect theft

• Do not disturb the crime scene
• Immediately contact local law enforcement

Daily inspections

Anything that isn't exactly the way you left it cold be an indication of theft. Tampered valves on anhydrous ammonia tanks can expose unsuspecting farmers to the chemical. If you notice any of the following, call your local law enforcement agency immediately:

• Has the ground around your tank been disturbed? Watch for fresh tracks in the mud or snow.
• Reddish, chemical based stains around the tank.
• Valves that aren't closed tightly. Sometimes a valve can work loose, but often it is the result of tampering.
• Items used in stealing anhydrous include duct tape, garden hoses, bicycle inner tubes, buckets and/or coolers.
• If the plastic wire ties you placed on your valve wheel are broken, chances are someone has tampered with your tank.

What to do if you see someone suspicious around your tank:
Leave the scene immediately. Do not approach or confront these individuals. Thieves may be under the influence of methamphetamine and may become dangerously violent with little warning or provocation. Never get within their throwing distance. When interrupted, thieves often throw their contain of anhydrous at the intruder.