Los Angeles, Ca
Southern California thieves drill into vehicles to steal gasoline
An Inland Empire resident is warning others after thieves targeted and drilled into her vehicle to steal gasoline.
The incident occurred on Sept. 19 as Heather Velasco parked her truck outside Kindred Hospital in Rancho Cucamonga where she works.
Later that day, she and a coworker were heading out to lunch when she approached her truck and noticed a strong gasoline odor.
Thinking it was emanating from a nearby diesel truck, they got into the car and began driving but immediately, Velasco knew something was wrong. Her truck was only three years old, so she was surprised anything would be malfunctioning.
“We drove across the street and my car started sputtering,” she recalled.
She eventually pulled over and that’s when she discovered someone had drilled into her truck’s fuel tank to empty the vehicle.
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The thieves drilled a hole into the truck’s fuel tank from underneath the victim’s truck. (KTLA) -
Heather Velasco is seen outside her truck and sharing her story with KTLA’s Shelby Nelson after thieves drilled holes into her car’s fuel tank to steal gasoline. (KTLA) -
A suspect was arrested in Upland for attempting to steal gasoline from a box truck’s fuel tank on Sept. 23, 2024. (Upland Police Department) -
A suspect was arrested in Upland for attempting to steal gasoline from a box truck’s fuel tank on Sept. 23, 2024. (Upland Police Department)
“I just looked under and sure enough, there was a hole and it was leaking gas and then I looked up and I saw another hole,” she said.
Velasco called the police and had her truck towed away. She was left with costly repairs in the aftermath — pay $4,000 upfront to fix the damages or pay a $1,000 deductible with an increase to her insurance premium. She chose to fix her truck by claiming her insurance.
She was also left without a car for a week which meant relying on others to drive her three children to school and at times, missing out on shifts at her workplace.
“It’s hard times,” Velasco said. “We’re living in times where everything is inflated. Trying to raise a family and trying to do things right. You’re not getting anywhere because you got these criminals on the run and they’re just doing whatever they want.”
Police noted there have been several cases of gas siphoning in the area since 2023.
In nearby Upland, police arrested a man on Sept. 23 for allegedly trying to steal gas from a box truck on the 800 block of North Mountain Avenue.
Velasco said she’s thankful no one was hurt, but is now worried that she can’t safely park her truck anywhere without fear of being targeted again.
“We should be able to go in, clock in and feel like your stuff is safe out there,” she said of parking at her workplace.
Local police recommend protecting your vehicle by having an active alarm system to deter thieves and parking near security cameras when possible.
“If you have access to it, park in a secure location like a garage or gated area, then that would be best, but otherwise parking underneath a lit area [would also be helpful],” said Upland Police Sgt. Eric DiVincenzo.
No suspect has been arrested so far as the incident remains under investigation.
About 20 people were detained Saturday during a large police response in Los Angeles’ Koreatown after authorities received reports of an armed man threatening people, officials said. Officers responded to the 3400 block of West 8th Street near Kingsley Drive on reports of an assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Los Angeles Police […]
A former Riverside County man was found guilty of sex trafficking a female victim and forcing her to engage in commercial sex acts along L.A.’s notorious Figueroa Corridor.
Elias Abdul Shabazz, 34, formerly of Perris, was found guilty by a jury following a five-day trial, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Prosecutors said Shabazz had led the victim to believe they were in a romantic relationship before he turned physically and sexually violent. He began demanding that the victim engage in commercial sex acts from May to October of 2021, court documents said.
He carried a handgun with him and, on occasion, was accused of using it to pistol-whip the victim. He also fired the gun at her feet while threatening to kill her, prosecutors said.
At trial, the victim said Shabazz demanded that she meet a daily quota of commercial sex proceeds and that she was terrified of the consequences of not meeting that quota.
She testified that Shabazz compelled her to work in the notorious Figueroa Corridor in South L.A., a dangerous area known for human trafficking and prostitution.
Shabazz had confiscated her identification card, Social Security card and birth certificate. He constantly monitored her cell phone to stop her from communicating with any friends or family.
“He also introduced her to addictive narcotics and controlled every aspect of her life, including when she ate, slept and showered,” prosecutors said.
In May 2025, Shabazz was arrested and has remained in federal custody. His last known address at the time was in Washington, D.C.
On June 26, 2026, Shabazz was found guilty of one count of coercing or enticing interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 6, where he faces 15 years to life in prison.
“Sex trafficking matters rank among the most tragic cases our office prosecutes,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. “This defendant will now face many years in a federal prison cell for his sick, disgusting, and disturbing behavior.”
“Elias Shabazz preyed on a vulnerable victim using physical and sexual violence and cruel psychological coercion to compel commercial sex acts for his own profit,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “There is no place for this type of conduct in civilized society. We deeply respect the victim’s courage to face her trafficker in court. The Criminal Division will continue to bring these cases and try them.”
Anyone with information about human trafficking can report tips to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888
The star-studded feel-good giveback event of the summer has returned. KTLA 5 is teaming up once again with Project Angel Food for the annual “Lead with Love: Going the Distance” telethon to raise critical funds for medically tailored meals delivered to people living with serious illnesses throughout Los Angeles County. The seventh annual telethon airs […]
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