FORT WORTH - The rising price of gas has some people finding new ways to fill up cheap.
Fort Worth police said they're looking into a case that ties in fraud, credit cards and stolen fuel.
Surveillance cameras and private detectives were watching pumps in the southwest part of the city this week. However, Cedric Lee Cook didn't realize it when he filled up at the Murphy's Gas Station on West Vickery Boulevard. The company's private investigators said they watched him for more than a week.
The investigators said it wasn't his Dodge truck Cook was filling up. Instead, they said he was using stolen credit card numbers and fraudulent gift cards to purchase the gas he was pumping into a large barrel in the bed of the truck.
Investigators told police they followed the suspect to Mansfield Highway, where he allegedly stopped and sold gas to a truck driver. They also had his house under surveillance for more than a week.
Murphy Oil Corporation told News 8 it's expanding the investigation and Fort Worth police are also on the case.
Officers said Cook used at least 16 stolen credit card numbers and fraudulent gift cards to buy the gas and they are currently trying to track down victims of the theft.
The pickup truck, complete with barrel and gas pump, was impounded. Now, Murphy Oil wants to know who was buying the stolen fuel and if there was a larger operation.
Cook was arrested for fraudulent use of a credit card and outstanding warrants.
E-mail cnorton@wfaa.com
