PITTSBURG — A Bay Area man was arrested in late January on suspicion of stealing more than 4,100 gallons of diesel fuel from Caltrans yards in Hercules and Walnut Creeks, court records show.
The 38-year-old Pittsburg resident has not yet been charged. He was arrested Jan. 28 on a grand theft warrant and subsequently released from jail, records show.
Authorities say the man was identified as a suspect in thefts over a period of several weeks in late 2024 at the two Caltrans yards. It started when an employee noticed repeated unauthorized diesel fuel fill-ups and notified the California Highway Patrol, which set up surveillance at both sites.
The man subsequently drove a semi-truck onto both sites and illegally fueled up from multiple pumps last December, according to police. Police pulled him over after one of the alleged thefts, on suspicion of violating a minor traffic law, but also to confirm his identity.
The total loss is believed to be 4,107 gallons of fuel worth an $15,065, authorities said. Police say they are still investigating the incidents and whether he had help from another person.