Tuesday, October 17, 2017

A Cautionary Tale or Big Data Score?

Image result for big data surveillanceSuspect In Would-Be Airport Bombing Nabbed With Help FromREI

 

FBI agents also tracked down surveillance footage of a white male apparently purchasing some of those materials, as well as other bomb-making supplies, at a Walmart and Lowe's in Arden, N.C.
But he paid cash at both venues, and the FBI still didn't have a name.
Then they found an REI in Asheville where a man had recently purchased a new backpack. A Traverse 70. He also bought a spoon — gray, polymer.
There was no video footage this time. And again, the man paid cash. But, Anderson writes, "the individual ... used an REI membership number when paying."
An REI membership entitles a customer to 10 percent back on purchases every year. In this case, it also gave the FBI a name — Michael Estes. After releasing a still photo from the surveillance footage, authorities found Estes in downtown Asheville. He was arrested on Oct. 7.

 

27 comments:

Lawyerliz said...

Wow,I wonder what he planned to blow up. Lost for a 10% discount.

Lawyerliz said...

Well, I'd rather not be b

Lawyerliz said...

Blown up.

Rob Dawg said...

Cute making us wonder.

It is amazing the trail of crumbs that led to solving the crime.

Cinco-X said...

Interesting... So paying cash for something that "might" be used for such a nefarious purpose is now a red flag, and various retailers are monitoring such activity and reporting it to law enforcement, no warrant required. Don't pay cash for nitrogen fertilizer, or you might go on a watch list... Wow

Lawyerliz said...

It's raining. Again

Lawyerliz said...

It's the spoon that did it.

Rob Dawg said...

I didn't use "cautionary tale" for nothing.
Use credit, leave a trail.
Use cash, raise suspicions.
Time to review the status of the extra identities I established when I saw this coming decades ago.

Rob Dawg said...

Mt Wilson Observatory is the real working facility not the one you've seen in so many movies, the Griffith Observatory. If the fire gets worse 8 million people might lose broadcast wireless cel access.

Cinco-X said...

Yes...I considered that back in the'80s, but blew it off... Crap

Cinco-X said...

BTW, facial recognition may have undone your ability to use those. It's a brave New world we live in...

Rob Dawg said...

In a similar vein. I bought a book today. You know, printed, ink on paper, cover, physical. Been a very long time.

Henley's Formulas for home and workshop

No way in hell it would be "allowed" to be published these days.

Lawyerliz said...

Well, the govt will stay open for a couple more months. Trump and Ryan? Made a deal.

Lawyerliz said...

Why?

Rob Dawg said...

The “shutdown” threat is broken. The compromise is the new worry.

Lawyerliz said...

I always thought keeping my profile low would work. Maybe not. I still don't want to blow up.

Lawyerliz said...

Will help to split the Repubs. But I guess the Bull Moosers have no help.

Lawyerliz said...

Hope.

Lawyerliz said...

The deal of extending the finance deadline wasn't on the news

LBD said...

23K hats today! Whats next boom or bust?

Glad they caught him but scary deal.

Cinco-X said...

I think we're pretty close to a too... No reason... Just my gut

Lawyerliz said...

A too?

Lawyerliz said...

More fires?

Rob Dawg said...

No doubt Cinco meant market top. The warning bell I hear is the amount of retail investment vs bigs. Twofold there. The bigs have an incentive to drop the markets and there is no money on the sidelines.

Rob Dawg said...

New post. A favorite topic.

Cinco-X said...

Top... DYAC

Cinco-X said...

Thank you...a top is what I meant