A Nashville man was arrested Wednesday after police said he siphoned gasoline from a work van parked outside a business on Donelson Pike.
According to investigators, surveillance cameras captured 41-year-old John Bruce arriving outside Signs Now around 4:30 a.m. carrying a gas can. Police said video showed Bruce crawling underneath one of the company’s work trucks before later returning to retrieve the gas can and leave the area.
Employees later discovered liquid leaking from the van and realized the vehicle’s fuel tank had been damaged. Investigators said Bruce allegedly used a screwdriver to puncture the tank in order to steal gasoline.
Police estimated that about $60 worth of fuel was taken during the incident. Authorities later identified a Crown Victoria seen in the surveillance footage and tracked Bruce down later that day.
According to police, Bruce admitted to siphoning the gasoline after he was taken into custody. He has since been charged with gasoline theft.
The investigation remains ongoing.