Jul 17, 2008 7:05 pm US/Eastern
Ex-Employee Allegedly Charged $44K In Stolen Gas
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
A man from the West End was in court today, charged with larceny at the pump.
Thomas Jones, 40, is charged with theft, receiving stolen property, and criminal conspiracy - all with the swipe of a credit card.
Jones allegedly pumped thousands of gallons of premium gasoline using a credit card stolen from his former employer, Mike Ulrich, owner of "BW Wholesale Florist" on Smallman Street in the Strip District. Ulrich says that Jones was "selling it - trading it - selling it to people - people are looking for a discount these days."
When the bill arrived this month the wholesale florist was out nearly $44,000 in charges on a single "Pacific Pride" credit card.
Ulrich says Jones initially made only small purchases beginning in December, but by June the price of "fill-er-ups" went up with the price of gas. "At one point, 61 in one day in June," says Ulrich.
After the bill came Ulrich still was not sure who was doing the charging. The day he filed a police report he decided to swing by the "Pacific Pride" gas station on West Carson Street and spotted Jones topping off the tank of a minivan. Ulrich followed, and when Jones was dropped off he confronted him and said, "I understand what you've been doing, and you need to come with me - get in the truck."
Ulrich took Jones to the police station. Jones had no comment. Today's hearing was postponed because Jones appeared without an attorney.
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