Burbank police seek leads in second major gasoline theft

Roughly 3,800 gallons of gas -- or more than $14,000 worth -- was stolen over a five-day period from the 76 gas station in Burbank, the second such major theft in as many weeks, police reported.

In the most recent incident, video surveillance footage reportedly shows suspects in two pick-up trucks -- one black and the other light-colored -- pumping gas at the 76 station in the 200 block of Hollywood Way more than a dozen times between Saturday and Wednesday, Burbank Police Sgt. Darin Ryburn said Friday.

The suspects allegedly used a fraudulent credit card to pump fuel into separate tanks in the bed of the trucks.

At least two suspects are involved, but police were only able to describe one – a black man who is roughly 5 feet, 6 inches tall, 220 pounds and bald.

Just last week, another gas station – the Universal Service Station at 2005 North Glenoaks Blvd. -- was robbed of more than $1,000 worth of gas, or more than 300 gallons, by suspects using a similar strategy.

Police believe the suspects pumped the gas into a “rigged vehicle” with a large container inside.

It’s unknown if the two gas thefts are related, police said.

Anyone with information on the thefts was encouraged to call Burbank police at (818) 238-3210.

-- Alene Tchekmedyian, Times Community News

Follow Alene Tchekmedyian on Google+ and on Twitter: @atchek.