The Ellis County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a case of criminal damage to property and attempted burglary from the Western Kansas Agricultural Research Center south of Hays.  According to Sheriff Ed Harbin, the incident happened sometime between the late evening of October 29th and the early morning of October 30th.

Harbin told Hays Post that someone attempted to steal unleaded fuel from the tanks stored on the property.  According to the report, the suspect attempted to pry the door off the electrical building west of the pumps, and then tried to gain access to the shed the tanks were housed in by cutting the lock off the door.

After failing to gain entry there, the suspect cut through cattle pen fencing to the right of the door and was able to enter the shed.  Using bolt cutters, the suspect then attempted to cut the lock off the vent cap of the unleaded fuel tank.  Still unable to gain access to the fuel, the suspect left the scene.

Harbin added that the situation could have ended very badly had the bolt cutters sparked when attempting to cut the lock from the fuel tank’s vent cap.

A representative at the research center declined to comment on the matter.

Anyone with information about this or any other open investigation is asked to contact the Ellis County Sheriff’s Department at 785-625-1040.