Tank of gas very expensive for 'pump-and-run' thief

A full tank of unleaded may end up costing thousands of dollars in fines, fees and some prison time for Randy Mooney, 33, of Spring Creek.

At 4:50 p.m. Saturday, Mooney allegedly pulled into the Winner's Corner station on Rand Avenue, filled up his white Chevrolet pickup with $27 worth of gas at pump No. 11 then tried to leave without paying.

Alerted to the theft-in-progress by a witness, a clerk ran outside after Mooney.

According to police reports, Mooney allegedly looked the gas station employee in the eye and drove toward him, accelerated, then swerved and tried to hit the man.

The employee jumped out of the way, but got a good description of the vehicle.

Around 7:37 p.m., Mooney was pulled over in the 800 block of College Parkway on a traffic stop. Evidentiary breath tests showed he had .175 and .176 blood-alcohol content when tested before being positively identified by the gas station employee.

According to police reports, as Mooney's mother came up to him, he allegedly told her, "I'll admit to stealing the (expletive) gas."

Mooney, who was already on probation, was booked on suspicion of felony charges relating to probation violation, as well as assault with a deadly weapon, suspicion of misdemeanor DUI, driving without a license and petit larceny (for the $27 worth of gas).

Bail was denied.