POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Two Orlando men are among four Floridians accused of attempting to tamper with gas pumps to steal fuel in recent weeks.
Investigators with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement said they were alerted in late February and early March about fuel pump tampering at gas stations in Lakeland and Lutz.
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On March 10, investigators said they saw Yordian Diaz-Benitez, of Tampa, using a pulsar manipulation device to steal diesel fuel at a Circle K in Lutz and on March 12, Marlon Rosel-Rodriguez, also of Tampa, was also observed attempting to install a pulsar manipulation device at the same location.
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Two days later, investigators said they observed Yulier Garcia-Martinez and Rogelio Llerena, both of Orlando, attempting to steal fuel by installing a pulsar manipulation device inside one of the pumps at a Circle K in Lakeland.
“Whether individuals are trying to steal fuel like in these situations or credit card data with skimmers, know that our department will continue to crackdown on crimes at our gas pumps,” commissioner Nikki Fried said in a statement.
Officials said Garcia-Martinez was released on $13,000 bond, and Llerena was released on $6,000 bond.
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