Newton County Sheriff Robert Burby said a pair of suspects fled before deputies arrived after they were spotted on security cameras breaking into an oil well site in the south end of the county on Monday afternoon.
Deputies responded at about 4:00 to Highway 87 near Farm to Market Road 253 in the Devils Pocket Community after security personnel with an oil company reported that they were watching the crime in progress through security cameras.
Burby said that recently the department has been dealing with crimes like this in which thieves are targeting oil and gas well sites. Burby noted that the crimes have increased during the summer months. “This time of year, they start stealing”, said Burby.
Meanwhile, the sheriff said that his investigators are working with the oil well companies to identify the suspects captured on cameras.
Burby said if you see anything suspicious happening at an oil or gas well site, you’re asked to call 911 immediately to report it and to provide dispatchers with a description of the suspects and their vehicle.
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