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Tom Weber
St. Paul, Minn.

Local man arrested in illegal gas siphoning scheme

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Chad Michael Storey was arrested for siphoning gas, but not with a hose to his mouth.

Instead, he used a tube that ran underneath Storey's truck from his gas tank into the cab through the floor.

Siphoning gas
John "Jack" Michaud, foreman of the Ramsey County garage, demonstrates how the suspect's truck was rigged to siphon gas. The tube runs from the gas tank, through the floor of the cab, underneath the truck, and into the truck's gas tank.
MPR photo/Tom Weber

Authorities said Storey could roll down his window and put the tube into the gas tank of the victim's car. A switch near the steering wheel started the siphoning, which means Storey never had to leave his seat to steal.

Sergeant Dan Loots with the Ramsey County Sheriff's office helped arrest Storey.

"We were kind of shocked and amazed that someone would go to that level of effort to steal gas. It's a big engine, I'm sure he uses a lot of gas," said Loots.

Hole in the floor
The tube used to siphon ran through the floor of the truck's cab
courtesy Ramsey County Sheriff's office

Investigators said the truck was also rigged to let Storey dump his gas into other tanks if he wanted to stock up and make a few runs at once.

Investigators also said thieves usually share good ideas, so if it worked for Storey it might be working for someone else right now.

The felony that Storey is charged with carries a three year prison term if he is convicted.