A Greenpoint heating oil company worker was arrested on Aug. 26 for allegedly stealing a truck loaded with fuel.
The arrest is connected to an incident that occurred between Dec. 23 and 24 of 2013 at the United Metro Energy Corp. plant at 500 Kingsland Ave. in Greenpoint, according to a spokesman for the company.
An oil truck parked at the plant was stolen, along with 2,440 gallons of oil. The company’s internal investigative report, based on video surveillance footage, interviews, phone records, and information from confidential sources, includes evidence showing individuals moving trucks in order to gain access to the vehicle containing the oil.
The report was submitted to the NYPD’s and the district attorney’s office in April of 2015. Based on this report and the NYPD’s own investigation, a man was arrested and charged with Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle in the third degree, a misdemeanor. The suspect is next scheduled to appear in Kings County Criminal Court on Oct. 19, 2015. While the law enforcement investigation is ongoing, additional arrests are expected shortly, according to the spokesman.
The cooperation between the company an law enforcement officials was cheered by United Metro’s chief executive officer, who claims ne’er-do-wells run rampant in the business.
“I want to commend the NYPD’s Auto Crime Division and the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office for their quick and effective attention to this case,” said John Catsimatidis. “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement agencies to fight crime and corruption in the heating oil industry.”
Heating oil theft has been on the rise in the United States. According to ECS Eclipse, a leading petroleum fueling system management company, this type of crime is often committed by employees of oil companies and is estimated to cost the fuel industry about $8 billion per year. Those who steal oil will siphon it and sell it for profit at a cheaper price.
