Suspicious men seen photographing propane installation prompt warning from Maryland sheriff

An eastern Maryland sheriff’s office asked residents to be on the lookout for suspicious behavior around propane-related infrastructure after two men were seen taking photos of an installation at a neighboring county.

The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office issued the notice Saturday after an employee spotted the man taking photos at the Sharp Energy Facility a day earlier in Princess Anne in Somerset County.

Authorities said two men parked their dark blue Tesla with an unknown registration at one of the side entrances to the establishment, then got out with a camera.

“The driver and passenger, described as being of Middle Eastern descent, exited the vehicle with ‘high tech’ cameras with long lenses,” the sheriff’s office said. “They started taking pictures of the storage tanks and the rail cars. »

Once the men noticed they were being watched by an employee, they got back into their car and drove away, police said. The sheriff’s office suggested a third person may have been in the vehicle.

Officials advised residents to be careful of unknown people loitering near propane facilities and unmarked vehicles idling near facility sites.

They also asked people to be wary of unauthorized people trying to access restricted areas and to keep an eye out for “strange behavior, such as photographing, taking notes, or closely inspecting tanks or equipment.”

Police encouraged residents to contact authorities if they notice strange behavior near propane installations.