Pinion Hills 200-gallon gas theft scheme involved hidden tank in pickup truck
Two Orange County men were arrested on suspicion of stealing hundreds of gallons of gasoline from Shell Gas Stations in Pinon Hills and Phelan.
The Victor Valley Station said that at 2:43 a.m. on Wednesday, deputies responded to a 911 call of two men stealing gas from the station at 8900 Beekley Road in Pinon Hills.
Upon arrival, Deputy J. Mora found Daniel Ramossantoyo and Andres Berruete still with their truck at the gas pump. Both men are 23 years old and from Santa Ana.
Deputy Mora discovered that the suspects had pried open the gas pump, used a device to override the pump, and siphoned approximately 200 gallons of gasoline.
Their truck had been equipped with a large gas tank hidden inside the covered bed of their truck.
Through further investigation, Deputy Mora connected the suspects with a previous grand theft at a Shell Gas Station in Phelan on Monday.
Ramossantoyo and Berruete were booked at the High Desert Detention Center in Adelanto on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a crime, grand theft, and vandalism.
Ramossantoyo's bail was set at $25,000. Booking records show he is scheduled to appear on Monday in Victorville Superior Court.
Berruete was released on bail and is due to appear in SBC Superior Court on Nov. 7, according to the sheriff’s report.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Deputy J. Mora at the Victor Valley Sheriff’s Station at 760-552-6800. Callers can remain anonymous and contact We-Tip at 800-78CRIME or wetip.com.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Men arrested, suspected of stealing hundreds of gallons of gas
