Gas Thieves Suspected in U-Haul Explosion

RIVERSIDE — Authorities believe gasoline thieves are behind an explosion at a U-Haul lot in Cathedral City.

The blast was reported just before 1 p.m. Tuesday at 68075 Ramon Road.  Four trucks were destroyed and a nearby storage facility was charred.  Damage was estimated at $120,000.

Firefighters found telltale signs of gas siphoning, which included cut-off sections of garden hoses that were left in the tanks of three trucks, according to Cathedral City Fire Chief Mike Hatfield.  Gas caps had also been removed from six other trucks – all of which had been drained of fuel, Hatfield added.  More from KTLA