In a recent turn of events in Monroe County, a man has been taken into custody for the theft of a substantial amount of gasoline, as reported by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. The incident, which left a Rumble Road gas station short of approximately 2,446 gallons of fuel, unfolded between January 19 and 20, while the establishment was closed, leading to an investigation that relied on technology to track down the suspects.
According to a report by FOX 5 Atlanta, investigators employed the FLOCK camera system which captured images of a gray SUV and a U-Haul truck that were believed to be involved in the high-volume heist, and a Be On the Lookout (BOLO) was subsequently issued law enforcement made quick use of this digital clue as last Thursday, a deputy stopped a U-Haul truck around midnight that matched the BOLO details.
Upon inspection during the traffic stop, deputies were hit with the undeniable odor of gasoline emanating from the vehicle; a search revealed two 250-gallon plastic tanks inside the U-Haul, which were nearly emptied of their combustible contents. The driver of the vehicle, identified as 27-year-old Lionel Jones, was arrested on the spot, and he now faces several charges, which include theft by taking and possession of marijuana less than an ounce, as well as a criminal attempt to commit a felony, as detailed by WGXA News.
Jones is currently being held at the Monroe County Jail without the possibility of bond while the investigation into the gas larceny remains ongoing. Further information will be provided as the investigation progresses and more details come to light regarding the circumstances of this grand-scale gasoline theft.
