Miami policeman earning over $130,000/year accused of stealing gasoline from his fleet station

A Miami police sergeant making more than $130,000 annually in his salary is accused of taking advantage of fueling privileges for the fleet of cars belonging to the city to steal some $277 worth of fuel, The Miami Herald newspaper reported May 18.

The newspaper said that a man who had been 16 years in the police was accused of stealing gasoline meant for police vehicles but which ended in his wife’s BMW, all based on the testimony of his police colleagues who first grew suspicious and later confirmed the petty crime.

Emil Van Lugo, 45, was followed by police detectives who witnessed him putting gasoline he had filled in canisters at the fleet station into his wife’s BMW car.

“Since early 2014, Van Lugo made 55 stops at the No. 17 station, according to the documents. Investigators based their charges on surveillance footage available for six weeks in 2015,” the newspaper said.