2 Austin men arrested in connection to Kyle gas skimming incidents

KYLE, Texas (KXAN) — Two Austin males have been arrested in connection to 2 separate fuel skimming incidents at a Kyle fuel station, police stated Tuesday.

Police stated the primary incident occurred simply after 5 p.m. on April 23 on the 7-Eleven fuel station positioned close to South Interstate 35 and Kohlers Crossing. An worker known as police to report two automobiles on the fuel pumps “pumping fuel into hidden compartments.”

The Metropolis of Kyle defined the boys enclosed switch tanks inside a field that was then welded right into a toolbox within the mattress of a pickup truck.

The worker additionally informed police the people had been additionally utilizing a number of present playing cards to make separate purchases. One automobile left the scene earlier than police arrived, however one remained on the scene. Kyle police stated Miguel Angel Vidal Flores, 29, was arrested for illegal use of prison instrument.

Within the second incident, officers responded to the identical 7-Eleven simply earlier than 3 p.m. on April 25, after one other worker known as, recognizing comparable habits to the earlier incident. The driving force left the scene however an officer positioned the car.

Kyle police stated when an officer initiated a site visitors cease, he noticed a number of present playing cards being thrown out of the window of the car. The driving force, recognized as Alberto Carlos Alonso Robina, 22, was arrested and charged with illegal use of prison instrument and tampering with bodily proof.

Robina was recognized because the suspect in one other fuel theft on the similar 7-Eleven within the earlier week, Kyle police stated.

Police defined additional the present playing cards allegedly used to make purchases had been re-encoded with stolen credit score/debit card info, thus permitting the suspects to doubtlessly purchase issues utilizing different folks’s cash. Kyle police are reaching out to victims who’ve had their debit card info utilized in these crimes.

Police stated proper now, they don’t have leads that may level to the suspects putting in card “skimmer” units to card readers on the fuel pumps.

Kyle police stated it’s persevering with to analyze. Extra costs are seemingly forthcoming. Anybody with info concerning this or a associated crime is requested to contact Kyle police at (512) 268-3232.