New Canaan Man Arrested for Robbing Employer

Two men were arrested for allegedly working together to steal money from the South Avenue Gulf gas station and Karl Chevrolet on South Avenue simultaneously, police said.

Christian Cruz, 32, of New Canaan was arrested on May 22 and Ali Khalil, 26, of Bridgeport was arrested on May 25 after police investigation revealed the two allegedly set up a scheme to rob their places of employment, said police.

Cruz, who worked at Karl Chevrolet, would bring cars to the Gulf station, where Khalil worked, to have the cars filled up with gasoline before selling them. At that point, Khalil would overcharge Karl Chevrolet’s account for the amount of gas given and the two men would pocket the difference, said Sgt. Carol Ogrinc.

Suspicion aroused when the Gulf station owners received an anonymous letter on March 15 tipping them off that an employee of theirs had been stealing from them. When the owners, 54 and 40, confronted Khalil, he allegedly admitted to taking $60 a day, seven days a week for five months, said Ogrinc.

The owners then gave Khalil the opportunity to pay back the money he took. Khalil allegedly stopped showing up after repaying just a few thousand dollars and the Gulf owners notified the police, said Ogrinc.

Ogrinc also reported that Cruz would purchase gift cards under Karl Chevrolet’s account and Khalil would take entire cases of Red Bull energy drinks.

A Warrant was served to Cruz and New Canaan police brought Cruz from his home to the police station to charged him with first-degree larceny, third-degree forgery, first-degree conspiracy to commit and third-degree conspiracy to commit forgery, police said.

Khalil turned himself to police after finding out there was a warrant for his arrest. He was arrested on identical charges as Cruz. Both are scheduled to appear in court on June 5, said Ogrinc.

Cruz was an employee of Karl Chevrolet for eight years and Khalil was an employee at the Gulf station for seven years, said Ogrinc.