THE BATTALION Page 7*
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1981
Prosecutor shocked by theft
Slick oil thieves indicted
United Press International
ARCHER CITY — Special pro
secutor, Michael Payne, hired by
an oil and gas association to inves
tigate oil field thefts, says three
men have already been indicted
and as many as 30-40 additional
indictments could be returned
within weeks.
Subpoenas were served last
week on 15 people suspected of
stealing oil and oil field equip
ment.
“I’ve had dozens of calls from
people in the field who think I
have their names and who are
ready to cut some deals,” said
Payne. “What’s more. I’m just
looking at the very fine tip of the
iceberg.
“We re dealing with a problem
so pervasive that it’s shocking
even by this industry’s standards, ”
he said. “I have one guy here
whom we could serve a possible 27
indictments against. You figure at
$3,000 a pop he was making some
pretty good money.”
To obtain indictments against
the Archer City men, law enforce
ment officials wore camouflaged
suits and hid behind bushes to
observe the theft of oil. Chemicals
were placed in the oil to aid identi
fication, and photographs were
taken with long-range lenses.
Oil field theft is now estimated
to cost the industry between $100
million and $200 million annually,
with up to half of it occurring in
Texas.
Payne said 90 percent of the
thefts involve oil — not equip
ment — and occur during the day.
There is no problem with selling
stolen oil, he said, since it goes for
$4 to $6 a barrel, compared to $35
a barrel for legitimately sold oil.
The big problem, Payne said, is
that the men who turn in the daily
production records — field super
intendents, for instance — are the
ones who are stealing the oil.
“The industry thinks it has a
checking system, but, in reality,
it’s terrible,” he said. “The lease
holders, most of whom have never
even seen their properties, just
think their wells are producing
three barrels a day when actually
these guys are stealing them
blind. It’s a perfect setting. ”
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StafT Photo by Brian Tate
Highway 50, where a portion of the Texas
A&M farm is located, to be a perfect place
to rest their wings.
COME OUT OF
YOUR SHELL!
The Thirsty Turtle
120 Walton Drive. Across from the main entrance
of Texas A&M. One half block off Texas Ave.
Open 7 days a week Sun.-Thurs. 2 to 12 —
Fri.-Sat. 2 to 1.
• Electronic Games • Pool Tables
• Dance Floor
$ 1 00 PITCHERS
WEDNESDAY NIGHT!
1 20 Walton Drive.
AMERICA’S DESTINY
what is YOUR role?
BOB BONNER
HEAR HOW YOU
CAN CHANGE YOUR
WORLD.
Tues., Wed.,
Oct. 13, 14 at 7 p.m.
In the All Faith’s Chapel
Sponsored by:
Maranatha Christian Fellowship
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The Circus is coming to town!
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 16th — Sunday Oct. 18th
WHERE: The Townshire Shopping Center
SHOWTIMES: Friday, Oct. 16 4:30 p.m. & 8 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 17 1 p.m., 4:30 p.m. 8c 8 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 18 2 p.m.
TICKETS: Texas A&M Students Discount with I.D. ^3.00
(present I.D. when purchasing ticket 8c entering the big top)
Adults (13 & up) Advance thru Oct. 15
Children (12 & under) 8c Seniors (65 8c up)
$ 4.50 Adults (13 & up) Showdays
$ 3.00 Reserve seats ^1.00 additional
$ 5.50
^ V2 price coupons available for children 12 & under at Town
er shire Shopping Center stores.
Advance tickets available at Sears until Oct. 15th