Suspected Gas Siphoner Caught In Benicia: Police

BENICIA, CA — A 39-year-old probationer from Vallejo is accused of siphoning gas out of at least one car in Benicia. He was caught in the act early Sunday thanks to an observant resident, according to the Benicia Police Department.

Officers responded around 1:45 a.m. to an apartment complex in the 900 block of Cambridge Circle where a resident reported seeing a man looking into cars, police officials said.

Officers found the possible gas thief and as they spoke with him, they noticed gasoline dripping from a nearby car. The car's gas tank appeared to have been drilled, and gas was spilling out of a bucket underneath the car, police said.

The suspect, identified in police records as Jun Alegre, is accused of having a drill with a drill bit matching the hole in the gas tank. According to police, Alegre was also found with a gas can and a funnel.

"Due to the abundance of spilled gasoline, Benicia Fire Department responded for the cleanup," police officials said. "The petroleum perpetrator was arrested for several criminal violations and was then arrested and booked into Solano County jail."

According to jail records, Alegre was booked into jail at 3:55 a.m. Dec. 1. He remained in custody Wednesday at Claybank Detention Center in Fairfield, where he was being held without bail most likely because of his status as a probationer.

In addition to violation of probation, arrest records show Alegre is accused of possession of burglary tools, receiving known stolen property and vehicle burglary.