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Suspects In Gas Theft Arrested

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By RAY REYES | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 26, 2007

LAKELAND - Two men who detectives said stole diesel fuel from gas stations in Lakeland and Sanford were arrested Friday.

Octavio Garcia, 27, of 1118 Village Place, Davenport, and Jose Guerra, 25, of 527 Village Place, Davenport, were each arrested on charges of felony grand theft by the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Garcia and Guerra are suspected of stealing about 624 gallons of diesel fuel from the Kangaroo Express Store and service station at 45489 U.S. 27 near Interstate 4, detectives said. The stolen gas was valued at $1,937, said sheriff's office spokeswoman Elizabeth Smokay.

Investigators believe that on Oct. 15 the two men parked Guerra's red 1998 Dodge truck and enclosed trailer over the main diesel fuel tank at the Kangaroo service station. While Garcia stood outside the truck, Guerra was inside the trailer. He opened the main tank, put a hose in it and pumped about 624 gallons of fuel through a trap door on the bottom of the trailer, Smokay said.

The theft of the gas in Lakeland was reported on Oct. 19. When Deputy Scott Stephens arrived at the station to investigate the crime, he noticed a newspaper article that described two men suspected of stealing large quantities of gas in Sanford, the sheriff's office said. The article described a red truck and trailer that were seized when two suspects were arrested on Oct. 18 in the act of stealing fuel at a Sanford gas station, Smokay said.

Detectives then linked Garcia and Guerra to both incidents after reviewing security footage from the Lakeland gas station, Smokay said.

Garcia and Guerra were taken to the Polk County Jail. Bail was set at $1,000 each.

Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at (813) 865-4433 or rreyes@tampatrib.com.

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