Wildomar Man Arrested, Again, For Diesel Fuel Theft At Temecula Winery

For the second time in five days, a Wildomar man was arrested for stealing diesel fuel – this time from a Temecula winery.

Monday evening, at approximately 10:45 p.m., deputies from the Southwest Station saw a truck pull into the construction area at Ponte Winery, located at 35053 Rancho California Rd.

A Temecula Police Department news release said deputies observed the male occupant of the truck connect a hose from the back of his truck to the fuel tank of a Peterbilt tractor semi-truck. The deputies were able to approach the subject on foot without being detected.

When the suspect was asked what he was doing, he told the deputies he was delivering fuel to the truck. Police determined that David Allan Box, 42, of Wildomar, had removed about 100 gallons of fuel from the Peterbilt truck.

Further investigation revealed that Box Team and his vehicle was impounded for evidence. Box was subsequently released on bail. During this incident, Box utilized a different vehicle with a 250-gallon fuel cell in the bed of the truck.

Deputies arrested Box for theft of diesel fuel, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), unlawful tampering of a vehicle, and violation of his court imposed-probation for previous fuel thefts. He was booked at the Southwest Jail. Box's pick-up truck, complete with the auxiliary fuel tank, was impounded for evidence.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact the Southwest Sheriff's Station at (951) 696-3000.