Blacksburg Police Department investigating seven 'gas drive-offs'

The Blacksburg Police Department is investigating seven recent gas drive-offs, with two vehicles apparently responsible for four of the incidents.

All of the incidents occurred at the Flying J on North Mountain Street, according to police reports.

The thefts include: an April 26 incident during which the driver of a big rig drove off with $930.78 in gas; an April 26 incident during which the driver of a green Dodge Caravan left with $49.62 in gas; an April 25 incident involving the driver of a red Mazda truck who left without paying a $40 bill; April 18 and April 21 incidents in which the driver of a red Ford Mustang took a combined $86.09 in two fill-ups; and incidents on April 17 and 21 in which the driver of a blue Daewoo car took a combined $67.76 during two fill-ups.

Video surveillance cameras captured the license plate numbers on all of the vehicles, according to police reports.

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office reported the recent burglary of a 13th Street church.

Someone broke a window to gain entry at New Hope Baptist Church sometime between April 30 and May 3, according to police. Once inside, the burglar(s) rummaged through the pastor's office and stole a large plastic water jug containing about $60 in loose change. The window damage is estimated at $200.

A Gaffney homeowner lost a computer and a safe to a burglar or burglars who broke into his Kendrick Street home on Monday, according to the Gaffney Police Department.

The break-in occurred sometime between 3 p.m. and 11:15 p.m. Taken were a Dell computer with flat screen monitor and safe that contained about $300 in cash and coins. Theft losses are estimated at $1,660 and damage to the home is estimated at $500.

A Gaffney man reported to police he was swindled on the Internet auction site eBay.

According to a report from the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, the Cherokee Avenue resident told police he had agreed to buy a 2004 Nissan 350Z automobile from a seller in Los Angeles. The man wired $9,900 to the seller and was supposed to take delivery of the vehicle on May 3 but the car has not been delivered and the seller can't be reached by telephone.

- Tim Gulla