Man allegedly steals $20K in diesel fuel from Prince George 7-Eleven
PRINCE GEORGE, Va. (WWBT) - A Florida man is facing more than 20 charges after allegedly stealing more than $20,000 worth of diesel fuel from a Prince George gas station.
Police say Pablo Lorenzo Navarro, of Miami, Florida, was arrested on Tuesday around 6 a.m. for stealing fuel from the 7-Eleven located at 4525 County Drive.
He is being held at Riverside Regional Jail on $3,000 bond.
“The investigation revealed Navarro illegally meddled with parts inside the fuel dispenser to steal diesel fuel. The meddling of the fuel dispenser changed the pulsar, which reads how many gallons and how many dollars the fuel costs,” said Prince George Police in a statement.
At the current price of diesel around $4/gallon, that means Navarro would have stolen roughly 5,000 gallons in order to reach that $20,000 mark.
“A typical semi-truck would carry anywhere from 200 to 300 gallons,” said Virginia Trucking Association President Dale Bennett.
He said truck drivers typically spend more than $1,000 to fill up their tanks.
“It is a significant cost,” said Bennett. “Sure, there’s a temptation out there for people to do something illegal to reduce those costs. And that is certainly something we do not condone.”
The investigation between Prince George Police and 7-Eleven loss prevention investigators revealed that Navarro is linked to six other similar thefts at the store.
Navarro has been charged with 21 charges, including:
- Felony Grand Larceny
- Felony Tampering with fuel pump
- Misdemeanor Vandalism
- Misdemeanor Petit Larceny
Police say their investigation is ongoing and there may be additional charges.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Solvers at 804-733-2777.
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