Authorities are looking for a man suspected of using a trailer reported stolen out of Turlock to steal gas in Los Banos.
The Los Banos Police Department has issued a warrant for the arrest Donnie Woodral, 46, in connection with the theft.
On Nov. 2, an officer from the Los Banos Police Department observed a vehicle parked near the fuel storage tanks at a local fleet fuel supplier.
The officer noticed the fuel caps had been removed once the vehicle left, and believed he had interrupted a gas theft, according to a release. The officer stopped the vehicle, but Woodral, who was driving the vehicle, attempted to flee in the vehicle before stopping the vehicle and fleeing on foot in an unknown direction.
Authorities found that the trailer used was “cold plated” meaning the alleged thieves replaced the license plates with plates from another vehicle. The trailer had been reported stolen out of Turlock.
Danielle Gourevitch, 30, Woodral’s alleged accomplice, was arrested for grand theft, theft of a vehicle, and conspiracy to commit a crime.
“What’s interesting is an employee of the fuel business alerted our Department of similar thefts going on at fuel station locations in Stanislaus and Merced Counties two days prior,” said Los Banos Police Commander Jason Hedden in a release. “Because the employee communicated with the Department the thieves were stopped dead in their tracks.”
Detectives believe the duo may be responsible for other fuel thefts in Los Banos and the investigation is ongoing.
To leave an anonymous crime tip call 209-827-7070 ext. 288, or leave an anonymous tip at the Los Banos Police Department’s web page at www.losbanos.org.
