New information, photos into Carson City gasoline thefts, suspect drilled hole in van gas tank
The Carson City Sheriff’s Office is attempting to identify suspects in gasoline thefts that happened in the capital city earlier this month.
On March 17, 2022 at around 3 p.m., a Carson City resident was eating lunch inside her Mercedes Sprinter Van while parked in the Lowe’s Home Improvement Store parking lot at 430 Fairview Drive. The victim heard the sound of drilling underneath her van, according to a Carson City Sheriff's Office news release.
The victim exited her van to find two vehicles had parked close to either side of the van. Multiple people were standing to the rear of her van, the release states. When the victim asked what they were doing, someone from under the van yelled “Let’s get out of here.”
The suspects left area in a dark colored Chevy Tahoe and a gray Ford F-150 truck. The suspects had drilled a hole into the victim’s gas tank and gas was now spilling out of a bucket the suspects had been using to collect the gasoline.
The suspects then went into neighboring Lyon County and again drilled holes in gas tanks on vehicles in the Mound House area on Highway 50, the release states.
The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office obtained a California license plate for the Chevy Tahoe, CA 8WBH039 from Galt, Calif. The Chevy Tahoe was last seen traveling west on I-80 in Reno toward the California state line at about 6 pm on March 17.
Detectives then learned the suspects had stolen gasoline from vehicles parked at the Carson City Home Depot at 3185 Market Street at about 2 pm on March 17.
Detectives obtained a photograph of the unknown male suspect who was driving the Chevy Tahoe. A female passenger in the Chevy Tahoe was identified as 22-year-old Barbara Hansen from Stockton, Calif. Detectives contacted Barbara by phone and she was not cooperative.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Carson City Sheriff’s Office, Investigation Division, Detective Sam Hatley (775)283-7852, Sgt. Craig Lowe (775)283-7815, Carson City Dispatch (775)887-2007. Case No. 2022-1664.