Oil field thefts investigated by Gregg County

Gregg County Sheriff Deputies have investigated two Oil Field Service Company thefts this week, after experiencing a reduction in these types of crimes over the past several weeks.

In the latest case, a well service company reported the theft of more than $12,000.00 of caving slips, rod elevators and swab lubrication equipment from a site near Texas 42 and 31 on or about June 17.

On June 16 another service company reported a similar theft at a site off Texas 42 near the Sabine River. Approximately $9800.00 in tubing and rod elevators were discovered stolen from the site during the past weekend.

according to Mike Claxton, sheriff 's Lieutenant, investigators are have said that those two cases could be related, .

"We have made a concentrated effort to enhance our field unit's visibility recently near work sites established by Oil and Gas Production companies and service companies," Maxey Cerliano, Gregg County sheriff, said today. "As a result we experienced a decline in reported petroleum type thefts."

Cerliano went on to say "Our numbers show two reported offenses thus far in June, compared to a total of nine for April and May."

"We always like to see a reduction in reported crime, Lieutenant Mike Claxton said today. Investigators will continue dialog with the security professionals in the oil and gas industry," Claxton said. "The sharing of information and networking of intelligence assist our efforts in reducing and investigating these types of cases."