The quick response of a deputy resulted in the arrest of a Kelly man on fuel theft charges Friday.
Allen Robinson, 44, was held under $7,500 secured bond on charges of breaking and entering a motor vehicle, misdemeanor larceny, no operator’s license, and traffic offenses. His address was listed as 19306 N.C. 53 E., Kelly.
The sheriff’s office reported that on Aug. 16, someone took around 100 gallons of diesel fuel from a truck parked overnight at Filters and Hydraulics in Riegelwood. The owner of the vehicle said he discovered a fuel cap open when he went to retrieve the vehicle.
Surveillance video released by the sheriff’s office showed a Ford SUV pulling a homemade trailer with a fuel tank. Investigators and patrol deputies also began hunting for the vehicle.
On Friday, Deputy W. Scott was on patrol in the east end of the county when he received a report of the suspect vehicle. While he did not located the vehicle at that time, Scott continued patrolling in the Byrdville Freeman area, and spotted a possible match to the suspect vehicle leaving a “poorly illuminated driveway,” the report said. The trailer matched the previous description, but the towing vehicle was different, the report said.
Scott executed a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle. Robinson allegedly had a fuel can and a siphon in the rear of the SUV. A records check showed Robinson also owned a Ford Edge that matched the description of the previous suspect vehicle.
The sheriff’s office said that there are possibly other victims of fuel theft in the area. Anyone with information about a theft or the suspect vehicles is asked to call 910.642.6551.
Sheriff Jody Greene thanked the public for their cooperation in the investigation, and praised Scott for his work on the case.
“His vigilance and attention to details resulted in the arrest of Robinson,” the sheriff said in a press release.
