State Police Arrest Springfield Man for Gasoline Theft
Approximately two weeks ago, the State Police Springfield Barracks received a report from a gasoline transportation company that it had received several complaints of gasoline delivery shortages in recent weeks from client service stations. As Trooper Medina's investigation progressed, Schauer became the focus of the investigation and it was determined that Schauer was likely making unauthorized deliveries of hundreds of gallons of gasoline to a service station at the intersection of Bay Street and Berkshire Avenue in Springfield.
Acting on information that an unauthorized delivery was likely to be made on the morning of August 8, 2008, Trooper Medina placed the service station at the intersection of Bay Street and Berkshire Avenue under surveillance. At approximately 6:46 a.m., Robert Schauer arrived at the service station driving a tractor trailer loaded with hundreds of gallons of gasoline and began to unload the gasoline into the underground tanks at the station. At this time, Schauer was approached by Trooper Medina. Upon the conclusion of the on-scene investigation, Schauer was placed under arrest. A search of the passenger compartment of the tractor trailer uncovered a small quantity of a controlled substance believed to be cocaine.
Schauer was transported to the State Police Springfield Barracks where he was booked on the charges of Stealing from a Tractor Trailer and Possession of a Class B Controlled Substance. The Hampden County District Attorney's Office, the State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section and the State Police Crime Scene Services Section assisted Trooper Medina with the investigation.
No further information is available at this time. Please do not call the barracks directly.