Man Busted For Using Device To Steal Gas

June 7, 2012

A Hileah man was arrested in Santa Rosa County  after allegedly using a device connected to a service station gas pump to keep the cashier from knowing how much fuel was being pumped.

Elian Laguna, age 38 of Katy, TX, was charged with use of an anti-shopping control device countermeasure and criminal mischief.

He was caught when an Exxon Fuel Express employee noticed the fuel pump stayed at $0.45 and was not registering any other amount as Laguna pumped diesel into his Ford F-350 Super Duty pickup. The owner noticed a device connected to the pump and called the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies arrived while the fuel was still flowing into Laguna’s truck. He denied stealing diesel fuel and told deputies  the device was already there when he started pumped.

“Deputies verified that the device connected to the fuel pump allowed the pump to flow at a normal rate while not showing any reading on the digital pump display,” according to Sgt. Scott Haines, spokesman for the Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office.

A search of his truck also revealed another device and pump with nozzle that could be used to siphon fuel from a tank.

“These pumps are commonly used by thieves to steal fuel from large trucks at rest areas or truck stops,” Haines said.

Laguna remained in the Santa Rosa County Jail with bond set at $8,000.

Comments

9 Responses to “Man Busted For Using Device To Steal Gas”

  1. Carl Lourens on August 14th, 2015 1:43 pm

    Employees are steeling from us on a large scale. We have a filling Station in South Africa. We received information that they are using a magnet with the tagging device. We tried it, but did not succeed. There must be a certain way they do it. We find no proof on the cameras. We need help to stop it, other wide they will close us down. We have the ISIS computer system also used in Europe. Any one, please help us

  2. Dale on August 6th, 2013 6:02 pm

    We have some truck drivers using an electronic device at our fuel station . have watch the video several times , they do not open the pump , only place the device on the pump . It gives them free fuel about 200 gallons each time we caught them at it.
    Hard to prove they did anything wrong unless you watch the tank reading compared with the pump readings

  3. David Huie Green on June 8th, 2012 9:01 am

    you’re assuming HE made it rather than he USED it

    of course, for all I know, it might just be a ceramic magnet placed at the right place

  4. Haha on June 7th, 2012 11:36 pm

    If he was smart enough to make that device then he should be smart enough to get a job!

  5. David Huie Green on June 7th, 2012 8:58 pm

    Now if he were a local fellow, someone would assure us he isn’t really a bad person, he just steals to save money and that any who disapprove have forgotton they all stole diesel in thier youth..

    David still disputing repeated claim “everybody does it”

  6. brent on June 7th, 2012 5:55 pm

    He’s a thief. cut off a hand

  7. JM on June 7th, 2012 8:01 am

    This device was also used to steal gas from big trucks at rest stops.

    Judge it is hard telling (he won’t) how many families including children
    he has affected with his thefts at all the others that we will never know
    I would never believe we caught him the first time~
    THROW THE BOOK AT HIM.

  8. johnq on June 7th, 2012 7:25 am

    no wonder he can afford such a big truck, he doesn’t have to pay much for his gas!

  9. SHO-NUFF on June 7th, 2012 2:51 am

    Back when gas was a buck a gallon, Hot Rodders used to rig up an electric fuel pump in the trunk, a length of hose, and pump gas directly out of the fuel tanks into there vehicle tanks at a service station. The stations did not lock the fill cap on the tanks then. I would not know, just heard about it! LOL!!!