Fuel thief suspect sought in Littlerock

LITTLEROCK – Authorities are searching for a man suspected of stealing fuel from a gas station in Littlerock.

Deputies from the Palmdale sheriff’s station responded about 1:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 14., to reports that someone was stealing gas from a Chevron station in the 7200 block of East Pearblossom Highway, according to Deputy M. Martel of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The owner of the station, who did not want to be identified because he feared retaliation from the suspect or his cohorts, told a news videographer at the scene he received a call from the attendant on duty that a truck suspected of being used to steal diesel gasoline was at the station.

“Sure enough, when I arrived, I parked my truck behind the suspected thief and was able to make my way to the cab of the (suspect’s) truck and take the keys out of the ignition,” the owner said. “When I confronted the thief, he took off running eastbound through the desert along Pearblossom Highway.”

The owner said this is the eighth time someone has stolen fuel from his business and each incident costs at least $400 to replace damaged equipment.

“The way the diesel theft has been done is they cut the tamper proof tape, open the computerized port, cut a cable that alerts the attendant that fuel is being pumped and they steal as much diesel as they can,” the owner said.

It was not immediately clear how much fuel was stolen and a detailed description of the suspect was not immediately available.

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