Updated at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 7
One man was sent to a local hospital after he was hit by a thief attempting to flee with a stolen gas can Thursday, according to police.
An Anchorage Police Department release states dispatch received multiple reports at 9 a.m. that a Jeep SUV struck a man near the Tesoro gas station on the 7200 block of Arctic Boulevard. When police and medics arrived, they found the victim with injuries that were not life-threatening. He was taken to a local hospital in a personal vehicle, according to the release.
Police say the man was sitting in his truck while gas was pumping when a “maroon or dark colored” Jeep pulled up behind him. The release says a man “wearing dark clothing with a scruffy red beard,” got out of the Jeep and started grabbing things out of the back of the truck.
Officers at the scene said the thief stole a gas can then got into the Jeep and began to drive away.
The APD release says the victim got out and tried to take photos of the suspect’s vehicle, which hit the side of the victim as it was fleeing the area.
KTVA was told the man’s friend had gone inside to get a receipt, so the victim got out of the truck and stood in front of the Jeep to get the driver to stop. Instead, surveillance video shows the thief swerved, hitting him, and drove away, according to officers at the scene.
Anyone with information on this incident or the suspect vehicle is asked to call at 786-8900 and press zero to speak with dispatch. To provide an anonymous tip, please contact Anchorage Crimestoppers online or call 561-STOP.
This is a developing story; please check back for updates.
