A Georgia man was arrested after he allegedly drilled a hole in a U-Haul truck to steal its fuel and caused a gas leak, drawing mockery from a local law enforcement department.
Jesse Smith, 25, was charged with criminal damage to property and theft Thursday after he allegedly punctured the gasoline tank of the rentable vehicle and made off with at least five gallons of fuel, according to the Griffin Police Department. The spill prompted fire department officials to respond Wednesday, leading to ridicule from authorities in the area.
“True story,” the department wrote in a post with an accompanying meme expressing its displeasure with the situation. “We have firefighters on scene cleaning up a gas spill after someone drilled” a hole in a U-Haul truck.
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“While we understand that there is a shortage on gas, we also want to remind everyone to exercise safety, patience and common sense,” the department continued. “The shortage is temporary and we anticipate the gas stations returning to full operations soon. In the meantime, remain calm and don’t do anything to endanger yourself and others.”
Smith, a resident of Griffin, was identified by someone after pictures of his red Ford F series truck were captured in photographs.
“So while you’re creating a hazardous material spill, for 5 gallons of gasoline and cause firefighters to have to work in the rain, we appreciate you parking your truck behind the KFC where we can obtain a photo of your get away vehicle,” police wrote to the suspect. “Also, the shots of you walking around the U-Haul trucks are helpful.”
An East Coast fuel shortage followed a shutdown of the Colonial Pipeline after hackers with the criminal network DarkSide breached its systems. Although the pipeline has since resumed its activities, the state of Georgia has seen 50% of its gas stations without fuel, according to GasBuddy on Thursday.
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The Peach State is one of several experiencing the issue as 71% of North Carolina gas stations were without fuel, 79% of Washington, D.C., pumps were run dry, and 52% of those in Virginia cleared out. Shortages have also been noted in Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Tennessee, and West Virginia, among others.
The shortage has been compounded by a surge in prices. The average price for one gallon of unleaded fuel skyrocketed to $3.08, compared to sub-$2 prices from this time in 2020.
