Explosives theft: 'It's very frightening'

"The sinister theft of these extremely dangerous materials in our own back yard is a clear alarm bell. I want to make certain that every question is asked and answered, and every necessary action taken, to the lives of our citizens on the Peninsula and in San Francisco," Lantos said in a statement announcing the hearing.

The House Committee on Governmental Reform's subcommittee on national security, emerging threats and governmental relations will hold the hearing soon, Lantos spokeswoman Lynne Weil said Friday. Its chair, U.S. Christopher Shays, R-CT, will be at the hearing as will other members of Congress from the area.

The last time such a hearing took place locally was 1994, Weil said.

San Mateo County Supervisor Mike Nevin, who himself called for Congressional intervention because of the theft, is pleased with the news. He even hopes Tom Ridge, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, will attend.

"We got what we asked for. They're listening to local government," Nevin said.

Nevin hopes to speak at the hearing and wants to emphasize the need for a minimum of standards across the United States. He also does not want to point fingers, but rather look to the future to try and make sure the situation does not happen again.

"I think we need to take a deep breath and thank God for every American in the Bay Area that the explosives were recovered," Nevin said.

The explosives were stolen from a remote vault at the Crystal Springs Reservoir some time over the July 4 weekend. The theft was discovered Tuesday. An alarm system was not working at the time of the break-in. Friday, a criminal complaint filed against Michael Alexander Allan, 46, stated he admitted to participating in the theft. He was detained early Wednesday after a van he was driving was discovered in a Union City Home Depot parking lot with the stolen explosives.

The amount of explosives is equal to that of most car bombs but not enough to blow up a building.

Allan and another man had moved some of the explosives into a storage locker in Oakland. Police suspect Allan was planning on selling the explosives for drug money - another alarming fact for Lantos.

"It is outrageous that such dangerous material can be taken away from authorities to be sold to the highest bidder," said Weil, of Lantos' office. "It's very frightening."

Jon Mays can be reached by e-mail at jon@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 107. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com