Criminals mysteriously got away with 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel in Texas – all thanks to a van and a trap door
March 17, 2022
HOUSTON, TX – Law Enforcement officials in Houston are seeking a group of criminals who allegedly made off with 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel. Police are alleging the crime occurred during daylight.
For three straight days, investigators believe burglars stole roughly 350 gallons of diesel from the Fuqua Express in Southeast Houston.
Everyone in the country is feeling the pinch with fuel prices skyrocketing due to the Biden Administration policies and the Russian war with Ukraine which has left some to believe they can make a quick buck by stealing the fuel, like what happened at the Fuqua Express gas station.
The theft was noticed after the manager of Fuqua Express noticed a discrepancy in the amount of diesel fuel they should have versus what was really in the tanks. The manager, Jerry Thayil, noted there were approximately 360 gallons of diesel fuel that was not accounted for, leading him to believe the fuel had been stolen. Thayil said:
“The first day, I saw there was 360 gallons missing. Then the next day, same thing, so we started looking at the cameras.”
Thayil decided to do some detective work and began reviewing store video surveillance to see if he could locate who might be stealing the fuel. It did not take him long before he noticed two minivans that were parked over the inlets for the fuel tanks.
As Thayil continued to view the video, he realized that no one ever exited the vans the entire time they were sitting over the fuel inlets.
After seeing this, Thayil realized that the vans must have some type of trap door that allowed the thieves to pump the fuel out of the tanks and into some type of container inside of the van while another vehicle apparently was the lookout. He said:
“The lookout and the van that is pumping the fuel out, they come at the same time. The van drives on top of the fuel tank and that’s all you see. Nobody comes out, so they have a trap door inside their vehicle which is crazy. They have to have another man inside [the van] to open our fuel tank, stick a hose in there.”
After looking through the videos and tallying up the business’s loss, Thayil believes that the group came three times, stealing roughly 1,000 diesel fuel and making a clean getaway.
Thayil said the crew attempted to get more diesel fuel later that week until he took off running up to the van which fled the area. He said:
“They hit us like the days we were paying like a real premium on the diesel fuel. Altogether [the total loss of fuel] was about $5,000.”
Thayil notified the Houston Police Department which started an investigation in attempts to identify those responsible and hold them accountable.
While the police investigate the crime, Thayil has taken measures to ensure that the thieves will at least have a harder time if they try to steal the fuel again by installing locks on the fuel intakes.
Thayil hopes that the news of this crime spreads and encourages other businesses to take additional steps to safeguard the fuel. He said:
“I just hope that whoever did this, sees this story and either turn themselves in or just stops doing it.”
https://www.lawenforcementtoday.com/criminals...-in-texas/
March 17, 2022
HOUSTON, TX – Law Enforcement officials in Houston are seeking a group of criminals who allegedly made off with 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel. Police are alleging the crime occurred during daylight.
For three straight days, investigators believe burglars stole roughly 350 gallons of diesel from the Fuqua Express in Southeast Houston.
Everyone in the country is feeling the pinch with fuel prices skyrocketing due to the Biden Administration policies and the Russian war with Ukraine which has left some to believe they can make a quick buck by stealing the fuel, like what happened at the Fuqua Express gas station.
The theft was noticed after the manager of Fuqua Express noticed a discrepancy in the amount of diesel fuel they should have versus what was really in the tanks. The manager, Jerry Thayil, noted there were approximately 360 gallons of diesel fuel that was not accounted for, leading him to believe the fuel had been stolen. Thayil said:
“The first day, I saw there was 360 gallons missing. Then the next day, same thing, so we started looking at the cameras.”
Thayil decided to do some detective work and began reviewing store video surveillance to see if he could locate who might be stealing the fuel. It did not take him long before he noticed two minivans that were parked over the inlets for the fuel tanks.
As Thayil continued to view the video, he realized that no one ever exited the vans the entire time they were sitting over the fuel inlets.
After seeing this, Thayil realized that the vans must have some type of trap door that allowed the thieves to pump the fuel out of the tanks and into some type of container inside of the van while another vehicle apparently was the lookout. He said:
“The lookout and the van that is pumping the fuel out, they come at the same time. The van drives on top of the fuel tank and that’s all you see. Nobody comes out, so they have a trap door inside their vehicle which is crazy. They have to have another man inside [the van] to open our fuel tank, stick a hose in there.”
After looking through the videos and tallying up the business’s loss, Thayil believes that the group came three times, stealing roughly 1,000 diesel fuel and making a clean getaway.
Thayil said the crew attempted to get more diesel fuel later that week until he took off running up to the van which fled the area. He said:
“They hit us like the days we were paying like a real premium on the diesel fuel. Altogether [the total loss of fuel] was about $5,000.”
Thayil notified the Houston Police Department which started an investigation in attempts to identify those responsible and hold them accountable.
While the police investigate the crime, Thayil has taken measures to ensure that the thieves will at least have a harder time if they try to steal the fuel again by installing locks on the fuel intakes.
Thayil hopes that the news of this crime spreads and encourages other businesses to take additional steps to safeguard the fuel. He said:
“I just hope that whoever did this, sees this story and either turn themselves in or just stops doing it.”
https://www.lawenforcementtoday.com/criminals...-in-texas/
