OCALA, Fla. – A man was arrested after police said they caught him stealing nearly 300 gallons of diesel fuel from an Ocala gas station on Monday night.
In a release, the police department announced that officers were called to the RaceTrac gas station at 4820 SW College Road about the fuel theft around 9:30 p.m.
Upon arrival, officers found the man — identified as Juan Abreu-Reyes, 35 — stealing 294 gallons of fuel worth over $1,000 using a “modified minivan” that had been equipped for siphoning fuel, the release states.
But after officers ordered Abreu-Reyes to exit his van, he instead tried to flee in his vehicle and later on foot, though he was ultimately caught by police thanks to their K9 officer (named “Creed”), investigators said.
“(His) vehicle was unregistered and contained multiple storage containers for fuel,” the release reads.
More specifically, a probable cause affidavit reveals that there were two 50-gallon drums and a large tank in the back of the minivan that appeared to be filled with fuel, as well as a large hose, two large batteries, and a manhole cover.
Abreu-Reyes was taken into custody and faces charges of grand theft, organized dealing in stolen property, unlawful conveyance of fuel, resisting arrest without violence, and operating an unregistered motor vehicle. He is held without bond.
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