Hundreds of gallons of diesel fuel have been stolen from trucks at a business on Rye Street in South Windsor in recent weeks, so police set up surveillance to figure out who was behind it.
Police identified a suspect early Sunday morning.
When Felix Ortiz, 51, of Hartford, arrived at the business just after midnight and began opening fuel tank caps on the Mack truck tractors, a police officer assigned to do surveillance on the building was there to witness it, police said.
Other police officers were called to respond to the business and took Ortiz into custody.
When officers further investigated, they found Ortiz’s vehicle was equipped with two large fuel holding tanks and a small electric pump to siphon fuel, according to police.
Ortiz was charged with sixth-degree criminal attempt to commit larceny, second-degree criminal trespass and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license.
Ortiz was later released on a $5,000 non-surety bond and is due in Manchester Superior Court on June 19.
