A 24-year-old Cuban man residing in Hialeah was arrested in Pembroke Pines, in Broward County, accused of stealing hundreds of gallons of fuel using a modified truck and magnetic devices that allegedly allowed him to manipulate the pumps at several 7-Eleven gas stations.
The detained individual, identified as Rodolfo Molina Conde, faces multiple charges, including grand theft, obtaining fuel by fraud, illegal transportation of fuel, and transporting fuel without a license, according to Local 10, citing police documents.
The arrest took place on Tuesday, November 10, around 7:30 PM, when an officer responded to a 7-Eleven gas station after receiving a report of an ongoing fuel theft.
Upon arrival, the officer found a black Ford truck with distinctive stickers on one side and on the rear window.
Molina Conde was outside the vehicle while the pump continued dispensing fuel. The officer ordered him to raise his hands and arrested him.
A modified truck and magnetic devices
The truck had an auxiliary tank installed in the rear with a capacity of nearly 200 gallons, connected via pipes to the vehicle's fuel system.
The researchers discovered that the lid of the original reservoir had been modified with an additional opening that allowed fuel to be directed to the larger capacity tank.
According to the police report, Molina Conde allegedly used magnetic devices to interfere with the operation of the dispensers and obtain fuel without the system accurately registering the amount dispensed.
When the agent intervened, the bomb meter displayed a transaction of approximately 20 dollars, even though the vehicle was still refueling.
An employee of the establishment detected the irregularity while monitoring the security cameras from Texas.
The worker noticed that the pump barely read 20 dollars, even though the truck had been fueling for a considerable amount of time.
During the vehicle registration, the officers found several large fishing magnets, hundreds of dollars in cash, three cell phones, and equipment related to fuel system modifications.
The police indicated that the magnets were similar to those used in other fuel theft cases. The truck was seized as evidence.
Two robberies valued at more than 1,650 dollars
The authorities linked Molina Conde to two incidents that took place at 7-Eleven stores in Pembroke Pines.
In the episode that led to his arrest, investigators estimated that 122 gallons of diesel, valued at $705.16, were stolen.
The second incident occurred on October 14 at another 7-Eleven gas station on Pines Boulevard.
According to the police report, a regional loss prevention manager stated that the security cameras had captured the presence of several vehicles and the manipulation of one of the pumps.
The images showed a white SUV and a Dodge Ram truck. Investigators described how a man placed a device on the bottom of a bomb before leaving.
Later, a Dodge Ram truck parked next to the pump, and its driver, identified by investigators as Molina Conde, began to refuel without paying.
In that incident, the police estimated that 153 gallons of fuel, valued at $948.60, were stolen. Between both episodes, authorities attribute to the accused the theft of 275 gallons of fuel, with estimated losses of $1,653.76.
The procedure also raised concern among people who were at the gas station.
«It's a bomb, it's a danger for all of us. Imagine, it exploded here and goodbye,» expressed one of the witnesses interviewed by Univision Miami, referring to the risk that, in his opinion, transporting large amounts of fuel in a modified vehicle represented.
Another citizen questioned the alleged theft: “It’s not right because everyone works to be able to fuel up.”
After his arrest, Molina Conde was taken to the main jail in Broward County. Among the charges he faces is also that of petty theft.
According to the police report, the accused requested the presence of a lawyer after being read his Miranda rights. The bail was set at 13,300 dollars. The Cuban was released after paying the bail amount.
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