Houston, Tx
Family-owned gas station says thieves stole more than 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel
Thieves allegedly hit the family-owned Fuqua Specific Chevron in southwest Houston thrice and tried a fourth time earlier than Jerry Thayil chased after them.
MISSOURI CITY, Texas — Amid hovering gasoline costs, a southwest Houston gasoline station is getting hit arduous on the pump however not for the explanation you would possibly anticipate.
“The way in which they did it was very sneaky. They have been doing it in entrance of so many individuals – so many various clients,” Jerry Thayil mentioned.
Thayil’s household owns the Fuqua Specific gasoline station. He mentioned surveillance video outdoors of the gasoline station reveals thieves in motion.
A inexperienced van will be seen within the surveillance video Thayil supplied to KHOU 11 Information. He mentioned the video reveals the best way the thieves pulled it off.
“That they had a lure door of their automobile and they’d put a dampen there and suck it out with the pump,” he mentioned.
The alleged thieves – he mentioned – hit his Chevron thrice final week and tried for a fourth.
“Every time they have been there about 15 to twenty minutes … in a excessive visitors time,” Thayil mentioned.
Thayil caught on to the act after noticing a deficiency in his shops three days-in-a-row final week.
“About 350 gallons of diesel,” per day he mentioned.
He started combing via surveillance video and seen a sample.
“I began seeing this van simply parked over there,” he mentioned.
He later mentioned he realized {that a} black SUV was there taking part in lookout. In all, he says the thieves stole over 1,000 gallons of gasoline.
“We had locks on our fill caps. Nonetheless they have been coming in and … I believe they have been locking it with their very own locks,” Thayil mentioned.
On Friday, he occurred to be within the workplace and when he seen that very same van pull up. He took off after it.
“I have to have them see me going after them and to scare them away,” he mentioned.
In complete, the heists have price Thayil and his household about $5,000. The worth of gasoline is hitting his household simply as arduous as customers.
“In this sort of job, each penny counts. We are able to’t afford to lose a single extra gallon,” Thayil mentioned.
He mentioned he spoke to Houston police simply hours earlier than the alleged tried fourth theft on Friday. He is hoping for the general public’s assist and asking anybody with data to name police.