PHOENIX — Former employees are accused of stealing over $100,000 worth of gas cylinders from a Phoenix welding company over the past year.
Phoenix police report that on October 11, Phoenix Welding Company discovered they had lost over $100,000 in gas cylinders over the past year.
The victim located one of their cylinders being sold on Craigslist and made plans to purchase the stolen item. The buyer went to a home near 12th Street and Southern Avenue and allegedly saw William Anthony Reed, 31, wearing a "Phoenix Welding Supply" shirt.
The buyer would later tell police that when the garage door was opened, "He could not believe the number of cylinders that were in the garage." Police say he estimated the number to be about 150.
On October 29, police set up an undercover buy of more cylinders. They went to the same home and bought more cylinders from 40-year-old Anthony Hollis Busey, who was an employee of Phoenix Welding Supply for nearly 20 years.
After the purchase, police moved in and arrested Busey and Reed, who both allegedly admitted to stealing the cylinders and selling them online. Police say Reed admitted to doing this for the past year.
They have both been charged with theft, fraud, and trafficking in stolen property.
