Local & State Headlines

Farm diesel stolen

• Nearly $3,500 worth of diesel is missing from a Lee County farm, police reports show.

J.D. Sumner

LEESBURG — A Lee County farmer told investigators that someone siphoned 1,000 gallons of farm-grade diesel from a storage tank on his property, police reports show.

Gill Pace, 63, told investigators with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office that someone stole at least 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel from a tank in a field near a pivot some time between Feb. 10 and March 20, the report says.

According to the report, Pace told deputies that when he last checked the 3,000 gallon tank on Feb. 10, it had about 1,800 gallons of farm-grade diesel. After using about 300 gallons during the month-long period, Pace told deputies that he checked the tank again on March 20, and found that it only contained 500 gallons — a 1,000 gallon difference.

With road-diesel fuel prices hovering around $4 a gallon, Pace told deputies he believes someone swiped the gas.

Investigators valued the fuel at $3.50 a gallon, or roughly $3,500 worth.

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