Man puts duct tape over license plate to steal gas
10 June 2008
One CommentMADISON TWP., Mich. - An Adrian man is being sought on suspicion of stealing gasoline.
According to a report released Friday by the Lenawee County Sheriff’s Department, at about 2:54 p.m. on May 19, a passerby observed a man placing black electrical tape over the license plate of a 1998 Chevrolet in the parking lot of Meijer and then driving away.
When the responding officer arrived, the witness told him the vehicle had pulled into the Murphy Oil station in the 1500 block of East U.S. Highway 223.
The officer pulled in behind the man, who was in the process of pumping gas into the vehicle, and noticed the license plate on the vehicle was obscured with black tape. Determining the evidence suggested a crime was in progress, the officer approached the man with his duty weapon drawn. The man was identified as William B. Webb, 23, of Adrian. Webb was released after being detained, as the investigation continued.
Lt. Cletus Smith of the Lenawee County Sheriff’s Department said “a massive amount of gas” is being stolen because of the recent increase in fuel prices. If a person’s vehicle is involved in a crime, Smith said, “we have the right to confiscate it to pay for what was stolen.”
Smith acknowledged the citizen who alerted police to the suspicious behavior. “We commend her for taking note of what was going on in the parking lot and reporting it,” he said.
Maggie Lyn Bailey, 19, of Adrian, who owns the vehicle, is not being charged with any crime, Smith said. The seized car was sold back to her.
One felony and two misdemeanor warrants have been issued for Webb on suspicion of larceny of gas, forging or altering a license plate and driving on a suspended license, second offense.
I could only say the observer has good eyesight. With my poor eyesight, I rarely met the kind of things.
11 June 2008 at 2:56 pm