On Friday July 19, 2024, at 11:33 p.m. an officer located a black Chrysler van with a stolen tag attached in the parking lot of the closed gas station on North Socrum Loop Road. The van was parked above the gas tank doors where the underground fuel is stored with lights turned off. As the officer pulled near to investigate further, the van exited the station. A traffic stop was then conducted. While standing outside the vehicle officers could smell and strong odor of gasoline emanating from the vehicle.
Upon inspection, the van, having an ordinary appearance from the outside, was outfitted to commit fuel thefts. In the back of the van was a 300-gallon tank, two barrels, several pumps with hoses, and two batteries that powered the siphoning operation. The large tank was nearly full of fuel. There was also a hole in the floorboard between the front seats to where the siphoning equipment could be lowered to access the tanks, allowing the driver to stay inside the vehicle.
The driver, Antonio Monzon Pedraza (age 33) of Tampa, was arrested for Attempted Burglary of a Structure (F3), Possession of Burglary Tools (F3), Unregistered Motor Vehicle (M2), Attaching an Unassigned Tag (M2), Petit Theft (M2), Unlawful Conveyance of Fuel (F3), Modifies A Vehicles’ Factory Installed Fuel Tank (F3).
This remains an open investigation