CLALLAM BAY — More than 30 gallons of diesel fuel were stolen from a Clallam County road truck in a gated facility in Clallam Bay earlier this month.
Ross Tyler, Clallam County engineer, said the fuel was taken the night of Sept. 17 from a “saddle tank” in the back of a pickup truck that holds between 30 and 40 gallons.
Since the lock wasn’t damaged, Tyler said it is likely that the thief or thieves had a key for the filler cap, which allowed he fuel to be siphoned.
Tyler said the only other way to get the fuel would be to turn on the electric pump inside the truck.
“There is no indication that they got inside the truck,” he said.
“When a lock is unlocked and not cut off and broken, it makes it pretty suspicious.”
Tyler said it is unclear how the thieves got the key, or if it was a copy or an original.
“They either made a key or had one,” he said.
Tyler said the facility is gated, but does not have a perimeter fence.
That is something the county may need to consider constructing, he said.
Tyler said the same key had been used for at least 20 years.
All of the fuel tanks can be accessed by the same key, which is why the county is considering replacing the locks, he said.
The Sheriff’s Department is investigating.
