Suffolk, Va. - Crews are cleaning up a 500 gallon oil spill in Suffolk after officials say crooks cut lines from two heating oil tanks on a church's property in order to steal fuel. Some of the spilled fuel ran into a nearby swamp and stream that is a tributary to Bennett's Creek.
This happened on Wednesday evening in the 5100 block of Nansemond Parkway and the corner of Shoulders Hill Road.
They say an employee of Apostolic Assembly called emergency crews at around 6:08 p.m. and told them that fuel was leaking from one of the tanks on the church's property.
Crews arrived at 6:19 p.m. and found out that lines from two 275 gallon heating oil fuel tanks had been cut. About 500 gallons of oil spilled on the ground and some got into the swamp.
Fire crews kept the spill from spreading and the owner of the property called a HAZMAT clean-up company to handle the spill.
The Virginia Department of Emergency Management also responded to the scene.
The crooks were able to steal a small amount of fuel officials say and they left the scene.
Crews are still investigating this incident.
