Houston County, Ala. — Seven individuals from across the country have been arrested in connection to a series of fuel thefts from local gas stations in Houston County. Authorities say the group stole thousands of gallons of diesel fuel from multiple Hobo Pantry locations, leading to significant financial losses for the businesses.
On April 24, deputies with the Houston County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of stolen fuel at the Hobo Pantry gas station located on the 700 block of Ross Clark Circle in Dothan. Investigators discovered that over 350 gallons of diesel fuel, valued at approximately $1,288, had been taken from the station. The theft was just the beginning of a larger investigation that uncovered multiple incidents of stolen fuel across the Wiregrass region.
Further investigation revealed that the Hobo Pantry locations in Headland and Eufaula were also targeted. At the Headland store, thieves made off with around 1,200 gallons of fuel, worth an estimated $4,380, while the Eufaula location saw approximately 2,142 gallons stolen, totaling $7,818 in losses. Authorities determined that the stolen fuel had been transported to a location outside of Atlanta.
During a press conference on Wednesday morning, Sheriff Donald Valenza revealed that deputies had located the vehicles involved in the theft. A black Ford truck, an attached U-Haul trailer, and an orange Dodge Ram were all spotted at the Hobo Pantry on Ross Clark Circle, where the thefts had taken place. Deputies arrested the occupants of the Ford truck, but the Dodge Ram fled the scene.
Later that day, law enforcement located the Dodge Ram at a residence on Strathmore Avenue in Dothan. Four additional suspects were taken into custody at the home, bringing the total number of arrests to seven.
The suspects, whose identities have not yet been publicly disclosed, face multiple charges related to the thefts, including grand theft and conspiracy. Authorities continue to investigate the operation, which appears to have been well-coordinated and involved individuals from several states.
Sheriff Valenza praised the efforts of his deputies and other law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation, stating that the arrests were a significant step in curbing fuel thefts in the region. The case serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by local businesses and the lengths to which some individuals will go to steal valuable resources.
As of now, the stolen fuel has not been recovered, and law enforcement is urging anyone with information related to the thefts to come forward.
