Massive law enforcement operation busts statewide fuel theft ring believed to be based in Oakland

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- A massive law enforcement operation has busted a statewide fuel theft ring that investigators believe was based in Oakland.

Several agencies were on the ground in numerous cities around the East Bay on Wednesday.

There was a show of force across the East Bay. In total, nearly a dozen different agencies were involved in Wednesday's operation, serving warrants at two locations in Oakland, one in San Leandro and one in Richmond.

The Greenfield Police Department in Monterey County is leading the operation. The department said it is part of a statewide theft ring in which people stole fuel from gas stations.

Greenfield's police chief said two of his officers first discovered what was going on by chance.

"We were lucky enough to have some officers that were on point and made an arrest during one of the several fuel thefts here in Greenfield, and that opened the box to this larger investigation," said Greenfield Chief Guillermo Mixer.

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Officials say after stealing the fuel from gas stations overnight, the thieves then resold it on the black market.

"They were able to bypass the security features of some of these pumps, and so they were able to access large quantities of fuel," Mixer said.

Investigators believe the operation used an Oakland location at Alameda Avenue and Oakport Street near Home Depot as its base of operations.

City Councilmember Noel Gallo said the spot has been a problem area for the city and different gangs for years.

"A year-and-a-half ago, the FBI was also present because somebody turned them in saying there were guns and rifles and pistols that were being sold by a gang here in the area," Gallo said.

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Beyond the criminal element, Greenfield police said there are also public health impacts to consider.

"You have fuel that's flammable traveling up and down the freeways -- being stored in conex boxes, steel containers -- without flammable retardants or anything like that. So it's being treated like a hazmat operation as well," Mixer said.

As of Wednesday evening, the investigation was still ongoing. But law enforcement says it believes its case is solid.

"We have a lot of evidence. We were very creative in some of the techniques that we used, all in line with our Monterey County DA's office. So we're very optimistic about the prosecution of these crooks," Mixer said.

The police are encouraging anyone who sees any suspicious activity at local gas stations to report it.