Calif. Fuel Theft Ring Takedown Brings an End to a Statewide Scheme.
Law enforcement in California has cracked down on a significant fuel theft ring that was based out of Oakland, bringing to a halt a statewide scheme that had been siphoning off gallons of gas from stations across the Bay Area.
Several agencies participated in Wednesday's operation, which included serving warrants at two locations in Oakland, one in San Leandro and one in Richmond. Nearly a dozen different law enforcement agencies were involved, all working together to disrupt the widespread theft ring.
The Monterey County Police Department is leading the investigation, with Greenfield Police Chief Guillermo Mixer crediting two officers who made an arrest during a fuel heist for uncovering the larger operation.
"It was a lucky break," Mixer said in describing how the discovery of this theft led him to start this investigation, which has grown to encompass several agencies and multiple locations.
The investigation revealed that thieves bypassed security features at gas pumps and resold the stolen fuel on the black market. Law enforcement officials say they were able to gather significant evidence during their investigation.
They are now optimistic about successfully prosecuting those involved in the scheme. Mixer emphasized the importance of public safety, noting that the storage of stolen gasoline presents a risk to commuters traveling through the Bay Area.
The police department is urging residents to report any suspicious activity at local gas stations.
According to Greenfield Police Chief Guillermo Mixer, there are "public health impacts" associated with this illicit fuel theft.
"The fuel that's being siphoned off and resold on the black market is without flammable retardants," Mixer said. "So it's essentially a hazmat operation."
Law enforcement in California has cracked down on a significant fuel theft ring that was based out of Oakland, bringing to a halt a statewide scheme that had been siphoning off gallons of gas from stations across the Bay Area.
Several agencies participated in Wednesday's operation, which included serving warrants at two locations in Oakland, one in San Leandro and one in Richmond. Nearly a dozen different law enforcement agencies were involved, all working together to disrupt the widespread theft ring.
The Monterey County Police Department is leading the investigation, with Greenfield Police Chief Guillermo Mixer crediting two officers who made an arrest during a fuel heist for uncovering the larger operation.
"It was a lucky break," Mixer said in describing how the discovery of this theft led him to start this investigation, which has grown to encompass several agencies and multiple locations.
The investigation revealed that thieves bypassed security features at gas pumps and resold the stolen fuel on the black market. Law enforcement officials say they were able to gather significant evidence during their investigation.
They are now optimistic about successfully prosecuting those involved in the scheme. Mixer emphasized the importance of public safety, noting that the storage of stolen gasoline presents a risk to commuters traveling through the Bay Area.
The police department is urging residents to report any suspicious activity at local gas stations.
According to Greenfield Police Chief Guillermo Mixer, there are "public health impacts" associated with this illicit fuel theft.
"The fuel that's being siphoned off and resold on the black market is without flammable retardants," Mixer said. "So it's essentially a hazmat operation."
, you know? Like, the sun is still shining bright in California but our minds are like "it's always too hot outside". Anyway, back to this fuel theft ring... it's crazy that they were able to get away with siphoning off gas for so long. I mean, who tries to steal fuel from gas stations and resells it on the black market? 
And now there's a risk of hazmat situations because of the lack of flammable retardants in the stolen fuel? It's like, come on people! Be responsible with our resources, right? 