Hot dog vendors trained to spot terrorists at Super Bowl

Indianapolis - The TSA has trained approximately 8,000 hot dog vendors, parking lot attendants, and others who will work at and around Lucas Oil Stadium during the big game to look for and recognize suspicious activity.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) provided the training to stadium workers and other volunteers through the "First Observer" program that is available online. Patti Hammerle, an event volunteer, was quoted by Fox News as saying, They told us to look for suspicious people and things that didn't look right. It's been fabulous. Knowing everybody was watching made us feel safer. The "First Observer" program was created to provide the transportation industry with skills to detect criminal and terrorist activity while goods and people are being moved across the United States. Regular participants of the program include truckers, school bus drivers, and other motor carriers. As reported in the Daily Mail, suspicious activity that trainees were taught to look for when the Giants meet the Patriots in Indianapolis later today includes wearing a hooded sweatshirt, using a video camera, driving a van, and using a recording device on a cell phone. Security staff employed at Lucas Oil Stadium went on a two day onsite training session conducted by the TSA. Janet Napolitano, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, was quoted by the Indianapolis Star as saying, If you see something, say something. We have seen time and time again that the public itself is our best protection. Security measures were described in the Indianapolis Star as being "unprecedented." Thirty-five federal agencies are involved in providing security for the big game in addition to stadium security staff, the Indianapolis police, and of course the hot dog vendors and parking lot attendants. Fans entering Lucas Oil Stadium will be subjected to pat downs and metal detectors. Delivery trucks entering the stadium have been screened and the venue has been checked for explosives. There is a long list of items that fans will not be allowed to bring into the stadium. These include bottles, cans, strollers, binoculars, umbrellas and any type of container. According to Napolitano, no credible threats have been made against Super Bowl XLVI.