The owners of a gas station in southwest Houston say that more than a 1,000 gallons in diesel fuel was stolen from their underground storage tanks by thieves.
Jerry Thayil, the manager at the Fuqua Express gas station, says they noticed that something was off with their numbers so he checked surveillance video and noticed a van parking over their storage tanks on multiple occasions.
“At first we were like, I wonder what he’s doing there because we didn’t see anyone get out of the vehicle but then we realized there’s probably a trap door inside the vehicle and he’s pumping like that.”
Thayil said his family’s business was hit three times for about 350 gallons of diesel per day. On the fourth attempt, he said he was at the store.
“As soon I saw him drive over the tanks, I sprinted out of the office,” said Thayil.
In surveillance video, Thayil can be seen chasing down the van’s driver who speeds off.
“We have bills to pay, we got employees that count on us, that need that money,” Thayil said.
He says the heists have cost them $5,000.
Houston Police are now investigating.