COON RAPIDS, Mich. – In four states, prank calls to fast-food restaurants have persuaded employees to smash windows in response to an alleged gas leak, CNN reports. Similar incidents have happened in Arizona, California, Michigan and Oklahoma.

Callers have targeted three Burger Kings, one Jack in the Box and one Wendy’s restaurant. The prankster claims to be from the fire department and tells the employee of a dangerous gas leak in the restaurant. He then convinces the worker that the only solution is smashing the windows to vent the store.

Burger King employee Ethan Grewe did just that, along with his coworkers, when a prank call came into the Coon Rapids location late last week. “I guess I was a little scared. My other coworkers were doing it, so I just followed along,” Grewe told WCCO-TV, a CNN affiliate.

The Coon Rapids caller said he was with the fire department and spoke with the manager about alleviating the supposed explosive gas building up inside the restaurant by breaking all the windows. “The employees ran out to their cars and got tire irons to break out the restaurant windows. About 20 windows were busted out,” said Capt. Tom Hawley. “He (the caller) was very convincing. He seemed to have knowledge of fire suppression systems and acted like he was monitoring the building remotely.”

Because of similar reports in other states, Hawley has been in touch with local law enforcement in those areas to see if there is a link. “Whoever did this could be charged with several things, including felony terrorist threats and felony criminal damage to property,” he said.

The proper response when natural gas is smelled (odor is similar to garlic or rotten eggs) is to vacate the building and leave the area immediately, sound the fire alarm and call 911. Retailers should review in-house procedures related to natural gas leaks with employees periodically as part of their overall safety and security measures.