Authorities: Thief Caught Stealing from Oilfield but Gets Away

GREGG COUNTY — Deputies are investigating a reported oilfield theft in Gregg County. According to KETK, the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office says around 3:10 Tuesday morning, authorities responded to a theft and criminal mischief report at an oilfield location off FM 2012 near Highway 31. An oilfield operator told law enforcement he saw a person stealing copper wire and damage equipment at the site. As the bandit was leaving the area, he dropped the trailer he was pulling and rammed the side of the operator’s truck, causing some damage to the vehicle, according to officials. The operator followed the suspect to Rusk County before losing the man on County Road 138.

The robber was described as a white male with a blond mullet-style haircut and possibly a mustache. He was driving a late 90s or early 2000s model light gray Dodge half ton single cab truck with a long bed and body side molding. The man was also pulling a 16-foot tandem axle trailer. The trailer has faded black and red paint with white wheels and a wood floor. The trailer also has side rails on it. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Investigator David Falco at (903) 236-8438 or Crime Stoppers at (903) 236-STOP.