High Tech Explosives Stolen in NM

ABC News reports that ATF agents are investigating the theft of 400 pounds of powerful explosives and 2500 detonators from Cherry Enginering, a company owned by Chris Cherry, for decades the senior explosives scientist at Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico. Not good news.

UPDATES: Here's a 12/20/05 update on this story by ABC News. This story states the explosives theft was one of the largest in recent history, that the buildings where it took place just Southwest of Albuquerque did not have surveillance cameras or security guards in place and that the robbery was the second over the past two years at the location. The thieves apparently used blowtorches to access the storage trailers. The amount of stolen explosives would be enough to match the bomb that destroyed the Oklahoma City federal building. The Santa Fe New Mexican also provides additional details on the crime.

Here's a 12/21/05 update in the Albuquerque Tribune that describes hightened security in Albuquerque as a result of the theft.