Fuel thief tops off tanks at $75,000

ROSWELL, N.M. (KRQE-KBIM) - An automated fuel station on 2nd Street in Roswell is unattended and without surveillance cameras to track whoever was using a gas card stolen from a trucking company.

The gas card and its PIN code number were taken from Groendyke Transport, a national trucking company with offices in Artesia, Las Cruces and Albuquerque.

Then between Aug. 19 and Sept. 7 someone used the card to make 112 diesel fuel purchases totaling $45,453.40.

Investigators said they've seen gas card thieves before but not like this.

The thief was also busy using the card in Eddy County running up another $30,000 in charges there.

The grand total: more than $75,000.

Several sources said they believe investigators have a suspect in mind. They haven't said how that suspect may have gotten his hands on the gas card and pin number.