Men accused of using hidden tank in van to steal 100s of gallons of fuel from Pomona gas station

san gabriel valley tribune ^ | Beatriz Valenzuela, San Bernardino Sun

[BenLurkin]

Officers were called to the gas station for possible fuel theft, officials said. When they arrived, they initially discovered the men, later identified as Quintanilla and Virgenogerman, were using a credit card to purchase the large amount of fuel without permission from the credit card holder, according to police.

As they further investigated the theft, officers found the vans had been converted to hold 1,000 gallons of fuel each inside a hidden compartment.

“Seats were placed atop the interior floor-mounted gas tanks to conceal them,” the release said. “This was a very elaborate gas collection and transport system.”

[lacrew]

I’ve seen reports on this before...a quick way to convert a stolen credit card to cash. All you need is a willing gas station owner to but the stolen fuel.

[Jeff Vader]

1000 gallons of gas weighs about 3 tons, I doubt a van could take that kind of load, aren’t E350s only rated for 1 ton?

[al baby]

Its a ba no not a ba a BOMB

[SauronOfMordor]

You don’t even need a gas station. You just have all your friends who do lawn mowing show up to your van to fill up.

[dljordan]

“1000 gallons of gas weighs about 3 tons, I doubt a van could take that kind of load, aren’t E350s only rated for 1 ton?”

Yeah, I don’t believe this.

[eartick]

1,000 gallons of fuel each inside a hidden compartment

That is one great big huge hidden compartment

[KarlInOhio]

Using a tank to steal fuel? Maybe this one:

Fill 'er up!

[FirstFlaBn]

And it’s around 125 cubic feet.

[2ndDivisionVet]

That was a nice town when I went to 8th grade there in a little parochial school. Delivered their newspaper, The Pomona Progress Bulletin as a kid, too.

[deport]

Another ruse from back in 2014......

Thieves use fake horse trailer to steal gasoline in Riverside
http://abc7.com/news/thieves-use-fake-horse-trailer-to-steal-gasoline/248933/

Friday, August 08, 2014
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) —
Riverside police are asking for the public’s help to identify suspects who stole
hundreds of gallons of gasoline from a local gas station using a fake horse trailer.

According to investigators, a newer, white Ford F-150 SuperCrew 4-door, pulling a
dark-colored horse trailer, pulled up to the gas station, stopping with the trailer
over the tank filling hole.

Authorities say it appears the trailer is equipped with a false floor and interior
pumping system that allowed the suspects, possibly a male and female, to steal about
500 gallons of gasoline.

end snip

[Paladin2]

Now that’s a WAY better plan..

[VeniVidiVici]

Officers were called to the gas station for possible fuel theft, officials said. When they arrived, they initially discovered the men, later identified as Quintanilla and Virgenogerman, were using a credit card to purchase the large amount of fuel without permission from the credit card holder, according to police.

Such a nice way to put it so that Quintanilla and Virgenogerman aren't tarnished by the word 'STOLEN'.

[BobL]

I was wondering the same...that’s no typical van if it could hold that much weight.

[armourenthusiast]

Hey...that’s my thing.

[fruser1]

The “1000s” are likely a sum result of doing it multiple times. So if they stole thousands, it’d mean they had been getting away with it for awhile.

[proxy_user]

Around here, you have to enter your billing zip code before the pump dispenses gas. Of course, they could find a way to get this, too.