Brazen gas thieves steal $65K in diesel fuel — including 9,000-gallon Coachella haul
Two men were arrested after allegedly stealing close to 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel in two separate incidents, with the total value of the stolen fuel exceeding $65,000.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspects as 40-year-old Steven Anthony Bailey and 27-year-old Brian Briseño Mena. Authorities linked the pair to diesel thefts that occurred in May 2025 and March 2026.
The first incident took place on May 16, 2025, at a business in Mecca. Deputies reported that the suspects tampered with a diesel pump and used modified vehicles to steal around 463 gallons of fuel, worth about $2,100. The suspects fled the scene, leaving one of the vehicles behind.
Nearly ten months later, on March 11, 2026, the same suspects reportedly stole roughly 9,000 gallons of diesel fuel, valued at approximately $63,000, from a business in Coachella. Officials said the method used in this theft was consistent with the May 2025 incident.
Bailey was taken to the Cois M. Byrd Detention Center and faces charges including grand theft, fuel theft, conspiracy, and organized retail theft. Mena was arrested on a felony warrant for fuel theft. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office stated that the investigation is ongoing and that no further information is available at this time.
The investigation involved coordination among local, regional, and state law enforcement agencies, including specialized task force units.
At the time of the thefts, diesel prices were high and rising. In May 2025, No. 2 diesel in California averaged between $4.76 and $4.84 per gallon. By March 2026, prices had jumped from about $6 per gallon early in the month to nearly $8 per gallon.
Authorities note that diesel theft is an increasing issue in California, often linked to organized criminal activity targeting fuel stations and commercial vehicles.
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