Oil theft a booming industry for thieves – www.hobbsnews.com

Oil theft a booming industry for thieves – www.hobbsnews.com

Oil theft a booming industry for thieves Levi Hill/News-Sun The recent arrest of five men as part of a “large-scale” oilfield theft ring involving a Mexican cartel is shedding light on a booming crime business plaguing the Permian Basin on both sides of the state line. “About 96 percent of the (property) crime in Lea County is oilfield,” said Rex Fleetwood, investigator with the Lea County Sheriff’s Department. “We have multiple cases going on t…