A 19-year-old man suspected of stealing about $42,000 worth of gasoline from a South County gas station was arrested Monday by sheriff’s deputies, officials said.
The man was taken into custody on suspicion of grand theft Monday morning while he was filling a GMC Yukon with gas at a Chevron station on Sweetwater Road near Prospect Street, sheriff’s officials said.
The investigation began in late November after employees told investigators the suspect was believed to have been visiting the gas station at least twice a week since June, stealing an estimated $2,000 worth of gasoline each time.
The gas station had been working with Chevron’s Information Technology Department to resolve the issue after employees noticed fuel consumption amounts were not matching sales amounts at the end of the day, officials said.
Employees at the gas station began reviewing video surveillance footage from the date and times of the unauthorized transactions and noticed the same vehicle and unidentified man stealing gasoline each time, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said the suspect manipulated the gas pumps using a credit card, which indicated to the fuel system the pump was in use. However, the transactions were never charged.
On Monday, just before 11:30 a.m., deputies were called to the station after an employee noticed the same vehicle and suspect at the pumps, officials said.
During the arrest, deputies discovered several large plastic containers inside the Yukon, some of which were filled with gasoline.
