Melbourne Police Put Brakes On Fuel Thieves
By Space Coast Daily // June 19, 2012
Running On Empty
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Police have apprehended a trio of thieves who were stealing fuel from gas stations in the area.
According to Melbourne Police spokesman Sgt. Sheridan Shelley, at about noon Monday, Melbourne Police were called to the Murphy USA gas station, 3940 N. Wickham Road regarding a theft of fuel.
The gas station clerk contacted police after she observed a white Ford van and a white Ford pick-up truck pumping gas at two separate pumps, however, the station’s meter was not registering the sales.
Once the vehicles left the business, the clerk inspected the pumps and noticed they had been broken into and tampered with.
She also discovered that about $400 worth of diesel fuel was taken without being paid for.
Officers soon located the suspect vehicles as they were pulling into the 7/11 gas station at Pineda Crossing Drive and North Wickham Road in Suntree.
A traffic stop was conducted and officers made contact with the vehicle occupants, Bryon A. Rucker, Corey V. Williams and Neil Sanchez Richeliey.
Officers discovered the Ford van was equipped with two large storage tanks believed to contain and store the stolen diesel fuel.
The Ford pick-up truck had a trailer attached to it that also contained two fuel storage tanks that had no fuel in them.
The three men were arrested and taken to the Brevard County Jail.
Williams and Richeliey bonded out of jail, but Rucker, who lives in West Palm Beach,was charged with driving on a suspended license, criminal mischief with damage to property, larceny and possession of marijuana, remains in custody.
Great work by the police. Its a shame that we have people that is too lazy to work and look for fast money in this type of stealing from the public that has to work hard to make a living the right way.