Police say 2 people used a ‘bypass device’ to steal diesel fuel from the Kiln pump. Crime
Two men were charged with the unlawful use of a criminal device after they were allegedly set up to steal fuel at a convenience store on Willow Springs Road in Killeen.
Probable Cause of His Arrest According to the affidavit, the officer “saw the suspect, Michelle Reich Avalos, pouring diesel fuel from (pump 12) into an external tank on the back of his pickup truck.” “Officers … inspected the gas pump and found that a device was installed behind the panel of the pump that prevented the meter from reading how much fuel was being pumped, even though the mechanical pump was pumping fuel from the end. was letting out. Tip.”
According to the affidavit, Avalos, 45, of Austin, possessed “a remote-control device that could turn the meter’s bypass device on and off with a single push of a button.”
Police said that when the device is turned on, the fuel meter at the pump slows down, releasing the amount of fuel. “When the device is turned off, the meter will run at a normal rate, commensurate with the amount of fuel being delivered.”
Witnesses told officers they saw someone in a gold-colored truck with a modified external fuel tank “who had left the same 7-11 gas station that used the same pump … where fuel was delivered. “
According to the affidavit, the meter reading was $16.86.
When police found the truck during a traffic stop, “a second suspect (Raudel Ledesma Diaz)” was alone in the vehicle.
The affidavit reveals, “It was determined that Diaz’s external tanks contained diesel fuel and several 5-gallon water jugs that had recently been filled.” “Further inspection of his vehicle revealed that he had a credit card showing his recent purchase of diesel fuel at the same pump…the fuel he had pumped from 7-11.”
Investigators said they found that Diaz, 36, of Troy had pumped 167.4 gallons from the same pump before Avalos’ arrival at the actual cost of $928.17, “indicating that the bypass device allowed him to pump fuel into his storage tank without detecting it.” Mechanically pumping was allowed. of the meter reader.”
Both men were listed in the Bell County Jail on Friday on $50,000 bond.
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