(WWJ) — Two young men have been arrested for allegedly stealing more than a dozen propane tanks from multiple gas stations in Metro Detroit and trying to sell them on Facebook Marketplace.
Officials announced Thursday 19-year-old Jeremiah Powell of Southfield and 24-year-old Malachi Powell of Garden City were each charged with larceny, stemming from a pair of incidents at Chapps Landing Travel Center locations in Wayne County.
The investigation began on Jan. 14 when the Huron Township Police Department got a call regarding the theft of 12 full 20-gallon propane tanks from the Chapps Landing Travel Center on South Huron Road a few days prior.
Employees told police two suspects came into the parking lot in a two-tone red and silver, late model Chevrolet Suburban around 5:15 a.m. on Jan. 11. The suspects then allegedly used bolt cutters to cut the lock on the propane tank display outside the gas station and loaded the tanks into the SUV before leaving the scene northbound on I-275.
Officials said further investigation revealed the Chapps Oil Company location in nearby South Rockwood “was also victimized in a similar fashion to the above-described incident a couple hours prior to the incident in Huron Township.”
Police later got a tip that Jeremiah Powell was selling propane tanks on Facebook Marketplace, though his listing had been taken down. Detectives spent the next few days searching Marketplace for similar posts until discovering Malachi Powell was also selling propane tanks.
After detectives saw the inside of the car, which appeared to match the suspect’s Suburban, they used an undercover Facebook account to set up a sting operation with the suspects at a Meijer parking lot in Flat Rock on Jan. 20.
The suspects came to the Meijer in the same Suburban seen at the Chapps Landing Travel Center and they were immediately taken into custody.
In total, police recovered 17 20-gallon propane tanks belonging to the Chapp Oil Company. The tanks were returned to the company.
Officials said Malachi Powell confessed to stealing the tanks in Huron Twp., while Jeremiah Powell initially denied any involvement, but later admitted.
Both suspects were arraigned at the 34th District Court and received a $2500 personal bond. They were both released from custody on personal bond.
Police officials have not said whether the suspects are related.