Fast food pranksters hit Indianapolis Jack in the Box

It’s happening across the country and now it’s happened in Indianapolis. A person calls a fast food restaurant posing as a public safety official and instructs workers to break out windows due to a...

It’s happening across the country and now it’s happened in Indianapolis. A person calls a fast food restaurant posing as a public safety official and instructs workers to break out windows due to a buildup of natural gas. 

In Indianapolis, the call came in Sunday night at the Jack in the Box near 21st Street and Post Road.  The caller told an employee to rip the sprinkler system out of the ceiling and break the window because of a gas leak. The employee complied, damaging their own building and unwittingly disabling its safety features.

"This really isn't just a silly prank, it really is putting people at risk," said Sgt. Catherine Cummings, an Indianapolis Metro Police Department spokesperson. 

In Minnesota, a caller told workers at a Burger King to smash windows due to a buildup of gas. The employees caused more than $10,000 in damage. The same thing happened at a Wendy's in Phoenix and near Tucson, another Jack in the Box fell victim to a call from a public safety impersonator.

"We're not going to call you and instruct you to do something like this over the phone," explained Cummings. "We're actually going to show up in person and we're going to help you with whatever problem you're having at the time."

Police say it's a good idea for managers to review with employees their own company's policies and procedures in dealing with such calls.  And if there is some fear that there could actually be a dangerous situation, call for help. 

"If you receive a phone call like this, and you really are truly not certain that it's the police, or public safety, or it's a prank, if you feel more safe, asking everyone to step outside and calling 911, and asking us to investigate, we are more than happy to do that," said Cummings. 

Police have not been able to catch or identify the person who called this restaurant,  but if that person is identified, they could face criminal charges.