Men Arrested, Accused Of Stealing Gallons Of Diesel Fuel

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) -- Caught red-handed. Anne Arundel County police bust two men they say stole thousands of gallons of diesel fuel from local businesses.

Derek Valcourt has more on the suspects and how police say they pulled it off.

High gas prices make diesel fuel a hot target for crooks willing to turn around and sell it on the black market.

Police say they slammed the brakes on fuel thieves Daniel Padgett and Robert Murphy in what they say is a growing trend. So far this year, more than 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel has been reported stolen in Anne Arundel County alone.

"They can fly under the radar; they can do it in broad daylight. They can dress themselves in a way that lends credibility to their presence," said Anne Arundel County Police Chief Kevin Davis.

Davis gave WJZ a look at the truck used in the crimes-- with a pump in the back and a trailer full of containers the men allegedly filled with stolen fuel.

An anonymous tip led police to launch a two-month investigation.

It was at a cell phone tower on Aug. 22 that police first spotted Murphy in action. They say he pulled his truck up, cut a hole in the chain link fence, attached his equipment and stole 160 gallons of diesel fuel.

Days later, police say they watched as the men stole 500 gallons from backup generators at a Verizon Wireless facility.

"Aside from monetary, the big thing for us is that if we can't fuel our backup generators with the diesel fuel we depend on, then there's a good chance our customers could lose service if there's a major power outage in the area," said Sandy Arnette, Verizon.

After their arrest, police raided Murphy's home and found--already a convicted felon--he illegally possessed firearms.

Police are now looking into whether these two men may have been tied to other fuel thefts, including $20,000 worth stolen in a truck from Warthen Fuel in Baltimore County earlier this summer.

Padgett is already out on bail. Murphy remains locked up on $50,000 bond.

Detectives are asking anyone with information on this crime or any other gas thefts to call Anne Arundel County Police or Metro Crime Stoppers at 866-7-LOCKUP.