Citrus Park fuel thieves flee, causing spill

CITRUS PARK, Fla. - Thieves pumping diesel fuel from an underground tank at a Citrus Park BP station suddenly fled the scene early Tuesday as a deputy on patrol spotted them and tried to intervene in their scheme to steal fuel. About 25 gallons of fuel spilled into the parking lot as they fled.

The suspects had apparently parked a van over the diesel storage tank shortly after 1:00 a.m. at 8606 Citrus Park Drive.  After pumping out several hundred gallons, the suspects took off as the deputy pulled into the station lot.

"As he approached the van he realized the pump was running inside and they were stealing fuel," said  Sheriff's Captain Andy Ross.  "Then he realized that the vehicle that pulled out was the suspects.  But by then they were gone."

They left the van behind and about 25 gallons spilled into the parking lot as the pump continued to run.

Hillsborough County Hazmat crews and a sheriff's bomb team responded.  Several businesses were shut down, including the BP station.  But they re-opened by noon-time, even as clean-up crews remained mopping up the remnant diesel fuel.

Law enforcement officials say this sort of thing has been going on for years, but they're concerned that the new spike in oil prices will make this crime more wide-spread.

"It appears that this is on the upswing, " said Captain Ross.  "Not just here, but across the state."