Florida Man Apprehended for Swiping $9,000 Worth of Gasoline
In a recent turn of events, a Florida resident finds himself in custody, accused of swiping a whopping $9,000 worth of gasoline from various Wawa gas stations in Orange County over the past year.
The individual in question, identified as Yerrison Perez, now faces the weight of three grand theft charges and one count of scheming to defraud, according to FOX 35 Orlando. Perez’s arrest on these charges comes on the heels of a previously unresolved warrant, apprehended on September 8.
This significant development was officially announced by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) on a Friday. It’s worth noting that Perez had been previously detained by the Orlando Police Department on August 19, 2022, for a similar fuel-related theft.
Authorities strongly suspect Perez’s involvement in fuel thefts at three separate Wawa locations, all transpiring between June 17, 2022, and July 7, 2022. These illicit fill-ups tallied an impressive 1,300 gallons of stolen gasoline, collectively valued at over $9,000.
Investigation and Positive Identification
The FDACS initiated an inquiry into these perplexing fuel heists last year. With the aid of surveillance footage, investigators managed to pinpoint Perez as the primary suspect.
According to the FDACS statement, “Relying on video evidence, corporate records, financial records, and other investigative techniques, Perez was definitively identified by the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE) as the perpetrator.”
Warning to Fuel Thieves
Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson sounded a resounding warning, remarking, “This arrest underscores that our ongoing collaboration with law enforcement is effectively cracking down on these criminals and should serve as a stark message to anyone contemplating fuel theft within our state.”
Post-arrest, Perez finds himself incarcerated in Orange County Jail. It’s essential to bear in mind that he also faces unrelated charges, as per the FDACS.
Currently, no additional details regarding the incident have been disclosed.