The Peoria Police Department Property Crimes Unit arrested four individuals after an investigation into the theft of thousands of gallons of diesel fuel.

The investigation started when a retailer noticed their sales did not match the large amounts of fuel that had been depleted and noticed suspects tampering with the fuel pumps.

Peoria detectives discovered the suspects were bypassing gas pumps at various gas stations in Peoria and throughout the Valley. The suspects manipulated the calibrating system, which reduced the price of diesel per gallon. The suspects were able to pump out over 2,900 gallons of diesel fuel, which resulted in a total loss of over $11,000.

On Nov. 29, detectives arrested four suspects and also recovered several vehicles in Phoenix in reference to this investigation. The suspects were booked into jail on the following charges:

• Luis Lavendero-Perez – DOB: 12/13/1984 - Organizing/Assisting Criminal Syndicate and Commercial Burglary (multiple counts)
• Silivio Machacdo – DOB: 01/16/1982 - Organizing/Assisting Criminal Syndicate and Commercial Burglary (multiple counts)
• Heykel Lugo – DOB:03/07/1983 - Organizing/Assisting Criminal Syndicate (multiple counts)
• Carlos Ochoa – DOB: 06/10/1999 - Organizing/Assisting Criminal Syndicate (multiple counts)

The department's property crimes detectives worked to solve this case and were able to link these suspects to several other cases throughout the Valley.