The Pharr Police Department is asking the public for help in finding the suspects involved in a diesel theft scheme discovered Saturday, according to a news release issued Tuesday.
Officers found a makeshift device after responding to a call from a clerk at a Stripes convenience store located at 1901 N. Tesoro in Pharr in reference to a suspected theft of fuel, the release said.
According to the release, employees went outside to check on a truck that had been parked at a pump for a long time without registering any activity.
“Although the suspect was spooked by store employees and took off from the scene, evidence was left behind,” the release said.
Inside the fuel pump, officers found the makeshift device, which was being used to bypass the original system. It allowed the suspects to take gallons of diesel without the cash register recognizing the pump was being used.
An investigation revealed that the gas station had been targeted multiple times and a total of $8,000 to $10,000 worth of diesel had been stolen, the release reads.
Police believe several people are involved in the scheme and have tracked down one suspected vehicle used, according to the release.
Other vehicles suspected of participating in the scheme include a 3500 black Dodge Ram made between 2012-2014, a 2010 gold Ford F-250 and a gray 2016 or 2017 Chevy Tahoe..
Pharr police are working with neighboring cities to find other possible cases and are urging anyone with information to contact the Pharr Crime Stoppers at 956-787-TIPS.
