VIDOR, Texas — A 31-year-old man from Orange is behind bars after police in Vidor stopped his vehicle along with a trap door-equipped trailer they say was set up for stealing gasoline.
Caleb Theol LeBlanc, 31, of Orange, was arrested on April 20, 2022, after a Vidor Police officer recognized the cargo trailer he was pulling as one suspected in a recent gas theft in rural Orange County according to a news release from the Vidor Police Department.
“The suspect was arrested on an unrelated narcotics charge," Detective Colton Havard said. "Communicating between the sheriff’s department and Vidor PD, the officers of Vidor PD knew we recently had a theft on the 100 block of Texla Road, and the officers made a traffic stop and he was arrested on the narcotics."
The officer pulled LeBlanc over for a traffic stop because the trailer's taillights were not working police said. When police opened the trailer they found two 55-gallon drums, tools and a trap door cut into the floor of the trailer.
Police say the trailer could be parked over a gas station's tanks and allow someone inside the trailer to siphon gas out of the storage tanks without being detected.
Police found a loaded AR-15 rifle, narcotics and narcotics paraphernalia inside LeBlanc's vehicle.
LeBlanc was driving the vehicle. Police are still looking for a second suspect.
Vidor police Chief Rod Carroll said this case does not surprise him. It is not the first time they've caught someone stealing gas.
“In the past, when gas prices have raised, people have used different types of vehicles to get over the gas pumps and tanks and to siphon the gas out of it," Chief Carroll said.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office said this is the first time they've seen this kind of desperation.
"They are definitely getting smarter, but we have never seen it in Orange County," Detective Havard said.
Law enforcement agencies said if community members see something they should say something but not interfere.
"If you are driving by and see suspicious activity, let the sheriff's office know," Detective Havard said. "Especially around closed stations."
LeBlanc was arrested and charged with defective equipment, possession of methamphetamine and possession of heroin the news release said. The heroin charge is pending lab tests police said.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
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From a Vidor Police Department news release...
On Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at approximately 8:21 PM, a patrol officer with the Vidor Police Department noticed a vehicle pulling a trailer that matched the description of a recent gas theft in rural Orange County that was reported to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. The officer initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle for no taillights on the trailer. During the subsequent investigation the officer located narcotics, narcotic paraphernalia and a loaded AR-15 rifle inside the vehicle. When the officer opened the trailer door, he located a trap door in the trailer which allowed the occupants to park their vehicle over the gas tanks, place a siphoning device into the tank and remove gas without being noticed. The trailer contained two (2) 55 gallon drums as well as numerous tools. The investigation is on-going.
The Driver of the vehicle was identified as: Caleb Theol LeBlanc, Age 31, Hometown: Orange, Texas.
Mr. LeBlanc was charged with:
a. Possession of Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine)
b. Defective equipment
c. Possession of Heroin Charge is pending Lab Analysis
He was transported to the Orange County Correctional Facility and booked in.