Virginia – Gas stolen: Thieves drive away in tankers from Prince George business

CARSON — Perhaps the lack of posted gas prices made them assume it was free.

As gas prices soared across the nation, at least two people made an illegal fill up of about 4,800 gallons of gasoline from a business in Prince George County early Sunday morning.

Lt. Brian Kei of Prince George County Police said the owner of Wilkerson Oil Company arrived at his business on the 20000 block of South Crater Road at 7 a.m. and discovered the lock to a storage area behind the main building broken. Upon entering the area, the man saw that two of his gasoline tankers were missing.

Evidence at the scene showed that both vehicles, two red International trucks, were hot wired and the tanks were filled to the brim with between $18,000 and $20,000 worth of gasoline before they were driven away, Kei said.

A Maryland State Police spokesman said a 2000 International truck was found at about 9:30 a.m. Sunday on Interstate 95 in Howard County, Md. near the Baltimore County line. It was abandoned after having a mechanical failure.

Maryland State Police processed the truck for fingerprints and released it back to the owner. Police are still searching for the second vehicle, a 1999 model International truck.

Terrorism has not been ruled out in the theft but commercial larceny is considered one of the most likely motives, Kei said.

Gasoline prices in the Tri-Cities averaged about $3.82 on Monday. The Associated Press reported the average price of gas has risen to $4.04 a gallon in the U.S., nearly a dollar more than a year ago.

Anyone with information related to the theft may call Crime Solvers at (804) 733-2777. From the Progress-Index

Just a reminder – not all fuel tanker thefts are related to fuel prices.  It is still a very good possibility terrorists will take advantage of the situation and steal tankers for nefarious purposes. 

RTaylor