Brazen gas thieves steal $65K in diesel fuel — including 9,000-gallon Coachella haul

A pair of thieves was arrested for allegedly stealing nearly 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel worth more than $65,000 in two separate heists of the pricey petroleum.

Steven Anthony Bailey, 40, and Brian Briseño Mena, 27, were taken into custody after officers linked them to the gas thefts in May 2025 and March 2026, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday.

On May 16, 2025, deputies responded to a business in Mecca, where the suspects has tampered with a diesel pump and used modified vehicles to steal about 463 gallons of fuel worth roughly $2,100 before fleeing the scene and leaving behind a vehicle, according to the sheriff’s office.

About 10 months later, on March 11, 2026, the same suspects stole approximately 9,000 gallons of diesel fuel worth an estimated of $63,000, from a business in Coachella with authorities noting the method was consistent with the earlier theft, authorities said.

Bailey was booked into the Cois M. Byrd Detention Center on charges of grand theft, fuel theft, conspiracy and organized retail theft. Mena was booked on a felony warrant for fuel theft.

“This investigation remains ongoing, and no additional details are available at this time,” the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement.

The operation was carried out with assistance from multiple local, regional, and state law enforcement agencies, including specialized enforcement and task force units.

At the time of the alleged thefts, the cost of diesel varied. During the first incident last year, the average retail price for No. 2 diesel in California was approximately $4.76 to $4.84 per gallon.

In March of this year, diesel prices climbed from around $6 per gallon in the early part of the month to nearly $8 per gallon.

Diesel theft is a rising problem in California, frequently described as an “organized crime phenomenon” targeting gas stations and commercial vehicles.

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters