27.9 C
New York

Florida officials say man used magnet in 10 diesel fuel thefts involving a tractor trailer

Published:

A man was recently arrested in connection with a series of diesel fuel thefts that took place across southwestern Florida.

According to the Florida Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE), Juan Reyes-Tellez was arrested and booked into the Lee County Jail on charges of:

  • Larceny for breaching access to a retail fuel dispenser without authorization
  • Larceny for possession of a device used to alter or manipulate a retail fuel dispenser
  • Operating a motor vehicle with a license that is suspended or revoked

Officials say that on June 8, 2026, OALE agents caught Reyes-Tellez stealing 261 gallons of diesel worth $1,305 from a retailer in Lehigh Acres.

“During a search of the tractor trailer, agents found a large magnet and discovered the fuel dispenser’s access panel had been tampered with. The magnet was determined to be a device commonly used to manipulate or gain unauthorized access to fuel dispensers,” Florida OALE said.

Agents linked to Reyes-Tellez to 10 convenience store diesel fuel theft incidents involving a tractor trailer.

Join Our Newsletter

Get the hottest daily trucking news

This Week in Trucking

Videos