Florida couple allegedly stole hundreds of gallons of diesel fuel
Employees reported suspicious activity at the pump
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A Miami area couple was arrested Wednesday for allegedly stealing hundreds of gallons of diesel fuel, authorities said.
Lee County sheriff’s deputies responded to a 7-Eleven gas station in Bonita Springs after asset protection reported "suspicious activity" at one of the pumps.
L-R: Edson Escalona and Tanilexis Tortolo. (Lee County Sheriff’s Office)
Deputies arrived and observed Edson Escalona, 35, and Tanilexis Tortolo, 43, at a pump putting gas into an external gas tank.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Employees and asset protection told the deputies that a tractor-trailer had arrived at a pump and purchased 15 gallons of diesel fuel, but physically pumped 200 gallons. Minutes later, a black pickup truck arrived at the same pump and paid for six gallons, but physically pumped 150 gallons. After that, a silver truck arrived and pumped 98 gallons – despite paying for roughly six gallons of fuel.
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Investigators with the South District Criminal Investigations Division determined that Escalona and Tortolo had collaborated to manipulate the pump with theft devices.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The devices and their truck were taken as evidence and the couple, from Hialeah, Florida, were charged with obtaining fuel by fraudulent means.
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"This couple thought they could travel to Lee County and steal hundreds of gallons of fuel," Sheriff Carmine Marceno said in a statement. "On average, fuel is $4.05 per gallon and businesses cannot afford to suffer this loss."