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Spotsy man charged with stealing gas
A Spotsylvania County man was arrested in Woodbridge this weekend and charged with stealing $50,00 worth of gasoline.
Date published: 6/16/2008

BY ELLEN BILTZ

A Spotsylvania County man was arrested in Woodbridge this weekend and charged with stealing $50,00 worth of gasoline.

1st Sgt. Kim Chinn of the Prince William County Sheriff’s Office said in a release today that Phillip Harris, 23, was charged with grand larceny after police surveillance showed him using a device at the Chevron Station on Gideon Drive in Woodbridge that allowed acquaintances to purchase gas at half-price.

Chinn said police received an anonymous tip last week and on June 12, they began watching as Harris would use the device, which he had reportedly stolen from the gas station.

The device was used to activate the pumps after the store had closed, Chinn said.

She said the amount of gas stolen from the station is estimated at $50,000 and police suspect the larceny has been occurring since January.

Harris was never an employee of the gas station, Chinn said, and when he was arrested at the station during surveillance, he was found in possession of the device used to activate the pumps.

He is set to appear in court July 30.

Ellen Biltz: 540/374-5424

ebiltz@freelancestar.com



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Date published: 6/16/2008



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Stealing is wrong.. (posted by Mooseman , June 17, 2008 4:58 pm)    0 likes
He deserves to be punished, but when is the government going to stop the gas companies from robbing us? If everyone would stop buying gas from Exxon & Texaco you would see how fast fuel prices would drop! He isn't a Robin Hood either..he was giving to his friends, which makes them thieves also. They all deserve jail!

People should learn to read (posted by doc , June 17, 2008 12:44 pm)    0 likes
If you are going to comment on an article please read it first so that you do not sound like a complete moron.

I'm curious??? (posted by dr428 , June 17, 2008 10:07 am)    0 likes
What is this device he used? I don't need details, just the big picture.

No Robin Hood (posted by Evander , June 17, 2008 9:14 am)    0 likes
CncrnedCitizen hails this thief as a Robin Hood? Looks like this crook was out only to help himself and his friends. Perhaps a citizen ought to show a bit more concern.

Gas theif (posted by Vickie , June 16, 2008 9:00 pm)    0 likes
I saw something about this yesterday on one of the news stations on TV. I believe they said that he had to first make a small purchase in order to then use the device to get the free gas. I think he was charging his friends gas at half price. They were paying him.

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