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WEST JORDAN — West Jordan police have been investigating a case of large amounts of gasoline being stolen from the tanks of commercial vehicles.
Keith Brian Lynch, 55, was arrested on May 30 for investigation of five counts of theft and four counts of criminal mischief. Formal charges had not been filed as of Thursday, but police said they are in the process of screening the case with prosecutors.
On May 1, Lynch went to an industrial area near 8050 South and 1400 West "and intentionally drilled a hole into the gas tank of a motor vehicle and caused the 31 gallons of unleaded fuel to be emptied from the tank," according to a police booking affidavit.
Ten days later, Lynch returned to the same area and drilled holes into the gas tanks of two other vehicles, taking 32 gallons of fuel from each, the affidavit alleges.
On May 30, police say Lynch once again returned to the area, drilled a hole in another gas tank and took another 20 gallons of fuel.
"The suspect had a funnel system placed into his vehicle so the drained fuel could be poured into his tank," police wrote in the affidavit.
This time, however, officers were able to catch Lynch and arrest him.
As gasoline prices continue to soar, other businesses across the Salt Lake Valley have reported similar incidents of thieves drilling holes into gas tanks and siphoning fuel. A Salt Lake business caught one man on surveillance video briefly catching fire while attempting to drill into a gas tank over the weekend.
Repairs to the vehicles after such crimes can be very costly.
