A thief steals gas from a Clovis school that serves students with disabilities
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A brazen thief was caught on camera heading to a California learning center that serves people with intellectual disabilities – stealing gas from a van and disrupting the path of nearly 200 vulnerable students.
Employees at the Diamond Learning Center in Clovis say frustration is mounting after a suspect broke into a gated parking lot and took gas from one of their vans.
Surveillance video shows a man slipping into the area around 5:00 p.m. Sunday and heading straight for the car, carrying several gas containers and appearing ready to take more fuel than he ended up fleeing, KMPH reported.
“When we arrived, one of the vans was broken into – all the oil on the floor at first, that’s what we saw,” Isaac Jimenez, the center’s executive director, told the outlet. “The petrol cans are left, someone took the gas.”
TEEN MOB CONTINUES TO BREAK A GAS STATION, ONE CLERK IS CUT ON CAM DEVICES
The suspect is seen running with a gas container after allegedly pumping fuel from a van carrying students to the Diamond Learning Center in Clovis, California. (Diamond Learning Center/KMPH)
The suspect ran away with a large red container, leaving two others behind, evidence that the theft was planned.
Clovis Police confirmed to Fox News Digital that the report was taken early Monday morning for three separate offenses, including vehicular assault, trespassing and theft.
Investigators say the suspect climbed over or climbed over the perimeter fence to enter the gate. The estimated value of the stolen fuel was $40, and police noted that there was minor damage to the vehicle.
BACK IN ACTION NEAR 100TH ARRESTS AFTER WORLD OF THEFT, DRUGS AND BUSHING ON HIGH SPEED: POLICE
Surveillance video shows the suspect entering a gated parking lot with containers before stealing gas from a school van at the Diamond Learning Center in Clovis. (Diamond Learning Center/KMPH)
Although there is a surveillance video, the case is still on hold due to the lack of investigative leads, the police say the quality of the video is not clear enough to identify the suspect.
Officials say the crime could be classified as petty theft, and the value of the stolen fuel is estimated to be less than $900.
While gas theft remains rare, police note that it tends to increase when gas prices rise.
Police described the incident as “disappointing”, saying any theft is a breach of property – especially if it’s breaking into a secure property.
At the school, the impact goes far beyond gas costs.
GOT ADVICE?
The Diamond Learning Center in Clovis, California, serves nearly 200 people and was the target of a gas theft incident. (Diamond Learning Center/KMPH)
The vans serve about 190 students, most of whom rely on the daily commute. Staff say the crime has forced them to reschedule routes, delay pick-ups and drop offs to notify parents – canceling entire school days.
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“It also throws off the student of the day,” Jimenez said. “It’s hard to pull yourself back, to refocus.”
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Jimenez had a strong message for the suspect: don’t come back.
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“You’ve been through it once—you’ll never get over it,” she said.
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Police are investigating and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
Officials also recommend that drivers take safety precautions, including locking gas caps and parking in protected areas whenever possible.
Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicide and immigration crime. Send news tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.
