LAS VEGAS (AP) — Authorities in Las Vegas say they're worried about the risk of explosion in neighborhoods where gasoline thieves are storing flammable fuel.
Lt. Shane Womack told reporters Thursday the concern is that flammable vapor during hot summer weather could ignite with catastrophic effect.
Police are distributing a public service announcement after Womack says 25 people were arrested recently for using fake or stolen credit cards to buy large amounts of gasoline and diesel fuel with plans to resell it.
He says the scheme seems to be organized, and suspects have used vans or pickup trucks modified with oversize fuel tanks to get gasoline to storage tanks in residential areas.
Deputy Clark County Fire Chief Jon Wiercinski says investigators found almost no cases where the flammable fuel they found was stored safely.