Police: Thief Uses Van To Steal Hundreds Of Gallons Of Gas
MIAMI (CBSMiami.com) – Normally a van fueling up at a gas station wouldn't attract anyone's attention, but what's been described as fuel bomb on wheels caught the attention of one Citgo station owner in Oakland Park.
But this isn't your mother's minivan.
According to Broward Sheriff's Office investigators, the minivan parked at the gas station was rigged to steal hundreds of gallons of diesel fuel.
The gas station's co-owner, Shaker Sarua, said he saw the van at his store and noticed his diesel supply was 255 gallons light.
"From the middle of the van, he have holes I think, and that's why he has something to lift the lid and put it back," Sarua said. "He can sit down and do everything from inside."
The van had three large tanks in the back and was rigged to siphon gas without being detected from the outside. There were pumps, hoses, a generator and even a trap door inside the minivan. CBS4 cameras could also see a black curtain in the front of the van, which apparently hid the thief from view.
"If you look between the front driver and passenger seat, you see a trap door," said Sgt. Richard LaCerra of the Broward Sheriff's Office. "This individual drove up over the tank, unscrewed the cap, unlocked it, put his hoses down and pumped 255 gallons of diesel."
Yoines Cristobanos, of Hialeah, is in the Broward County Jail charged with grand theft.
The other co-owner, Sam Sarua, said this is at least the fourth time the station has had diesel fuel stolen recently.
"They're professionals," Sarua said. "They know what they're doing."
His brother said the crime should be a wake-up call to gas station owners everywhere.
"I hope every gas station owner look for it," he said.
BSO investigators are checking to see how many cases like this they have. BSO said at this point it looks like the van's driver is part of some type of ring with several other people involved.
