Jesse Arthur Davila III was arrested after reportedly confessing to taking $1,800 in diesel from a county water truck in Bruceville, Texas. Police found both tanks drilled; the truck’s damage was reported at $5,000.
KFDA News 10 reported that a trail of spilled diesel led police from the truck to a residence. Officers found a utility vehicle that smelled of diesel, along with fuel cans and siphon hoses; the outlet said Davila lived there.
Fuel-tank drilling has also been reported elsewhere: a Los Angeles repair shop told The Washington Post it now fixes about one drilled tank a week, versus a handful a year before. In Lincoln, eight of 12 fuel-theft cases police investigated this year involved drilled tanks; a city official said the issue was not prevalent locally. Lincoln data showed $300–$1,800 in vehicle damage for no more than $90 in stolen fuel. The Insurance Information Institute said comprehensive policies typically cover theft-related vehicle damage, while liability-only policies generally do not; stolen-fuel coverage depends on the policy and circumstances.
