Further fuel thefts expected from area construction sites
Further fuel thefts expected from city area construction sites

By Diana Baldwin

Published: May 30, 2008

EDMOND — Knox Construction may hire extra security to guard fuel at its construction sites after the theft this week of 3,500 gallons of diesel from a construction site along Interstate 35 in Edmond.

The theft of the fuel, which was valued at $15,000, was discovered Sunday, according to an Edmond police report released Thursday.

"With the skyrocketing fuel prices, we are starting to see larger thefts of fuel,” said Glynda Chu, Edmond Police Department spokeswoman.

"We used to see gasoline drive-offs, and now they're stealing thousands of gallons.

"As the price of fuel continues to go up, the crimes are going to go up.”

Also last weekend, a $65,000 truck and about $8,700 of diesel were taken from an Oklahoma City construction site in north Oklahoma City. The truck and fuel belong to Kingfisher-based United General Contractors.

There is a good possibility the two thefts are connected, said Jim Knox, co-owner of Knox Construction, 1603 E 19th St.

"They would have had to use a truck with a large capacity to carry that much fuel, and they stole a truck,” Knox said. "I can't say for sure.”

In Edmond, diesel was stolen from two fuel tanks at a construction site in the 1100 block of W Interstate 35 Frontage Road, according to the police report.

Jackie Knox, manager of Knox Construction, told police the tanks, used to refuel the vehicles and heavy equipment, were topped off May 23. He reported the tank locks missing and the tanks empty.

"These thieves had to be prepared to get away with that much fuel,” Chu said.