In a daring theft, three unidentified men in their 30s stole crates of cigarettes worth $20,000 from a delivery truck at an ARCO gas station located in the 1800 block of Durfee Avenue in South El Monte, California. The incident took place on Tuesday night, February 20, around 10 p.m.
According to Sgt. Robert Leyba of the local sheriff’s department, the trio pulled up behind the open delivery truck and swiftly loaded as many cigarettes as they could into their black Ford Explorer. The delivery driver, who had momentarily left the truck, noticed the theft in progress as he exited the gas station. He managed to obtain a license-plate number from the getaway vehicle, only to discover later that the plate had been reported stolen.
Authorities are currently investigating the incident and searching for the three suspects. The stolen cigarettes, valued at $20,000, pose a significant loss for the delivery company. The ARCO gas station, located in South El Monte, has become the latest target of criminal activity in the area.
